116 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the fruit at last. But wherever a family of grapes is found that 

 does produce better grapes than the parent, that would be the 

 best to work with. The Concord has already produced, in other 

 hands than mine, admirable grapes. Mr. Miller, of Pennsyl- 

 vania, has grown, from seeds which I sent him in 1856, a large 

 white grape, described as sweet as honey, and large and hand- 

 some in bunch. I have seedlings from the Concord better than 

 it, and grandchildren better than the children. 



Now if, in four generations, I have made that constant 

 improvement, then I think we may be encouraged to believe 

 that sometime in the future, though we may not see it, in the 

 course of half a century, perhaps, we shall have grapes equal 

 to the choicest of those in Europe. An eminent French gentle- 

 man told me, after eating some very ripe and fine Concords at 

 my house, that he believed we should have the best grape in the 

 world and the best wine in the world. It would not be like the 

 wine of other parts of the world, but it would be better. He 

 explained that the too pronounced flavor of our grape would be 

 ameliorated to a rich flavor, that would surpass the simple 

 sweetness and delicacy of the European grape. I think our 

 friend Mr. Flint, who saw the White Riessling in Germany, has 

 stated that he found it harsh ; and yet is a good wine grape. 

 That seems to be true of the grape — that if it be harsh for the 

 palate, and even unfit for the table, it may yet make excellent 

 wine. That is the case with the grape that makes port wine. 

 It is almost inedible it is so rough, yet the wine, when old 

 enough, is the finest wine in the world. 



Now I want the members of the Board to help me work out 

 this problem, because, in the multiplied instances of reproduc- 

 tion, we shall be more sure to meet with perfect success. If 

 you grow a seedling in soil like mine, and a location like mine, 

 and where all the circumstances of climate and weather are the 

 same always, it gets fitted to these conditions, perhaps, and 

 accomplishes what it is equal to under them ; but if it be grown 

 under other circumstances, in other soil, some of which would 

 be more favorable, in a different climate, if, in short, you bring 

 it under the effect of different influences, you would be likely 

 to have a different and possibly better result. You multiply the 

 chances of success. 



