FRUITS. 99 



The State Agricultural Report well remarks, that " after a 

 most diligent inquiry it will be found that few, very few, vari- 

 eties, well chosen, will prove much more profitable for general 

 culture than many sorts." 



THE GRAPE. 



This much coveted fruit, which is so universally known, also 

 demands our consideration. Perhaps no fruit is more perfect 

 in its wild state, as it grows in the swamps and forests, and yet 

 it is greatly improved by cultivation. And this work of cultiva- 

 tion has greatly increased of late years. The last State Report 

 says : " The cultivation of the grape has, during the last ten 

 years, increased with a rapidity unparalleled in the case of any 

 other fruit, and is destined to still further extension." For 

 what was this island' called Vineyard, if it was not that grapes 

 once grew here in abundance ? If there are not now so many 

 wild as formerly, wefmust cultivate. If we cannot gather clus- 

 ters as large as those found by tlie spies in " the valley of 

 Eshcol," a bunch of which was enough for two men to lift, ws- 

 can nevertheless appropriate rich varieties from our gardens^ and 

 arbors. Although our climate is a little rigid, and we cannot, 

 therefore, vie with those living in tropical regions, yet we have 

 already proved that we can grow many rich varieties of the 

 hardier kinds. It has been ascertained that there are now culti- 

 vated in our county at least twenty-nine known varieties. There 

 are probably some others whose names have not been obtained, 

 and yet others whose names may not be known to growers. 

 Among those on our collected list, and those most generally 

 approved as adapted to our soil and climate, are the Concord, 

 the Delaware, the lona, Hartford Prolific, Dracut Amber, Diana, 

 Rogers Hybrid, Nos. 15 and 19, Northern Muscadine, Union 

 Village, Catawba, Sage, Logan, and, last but not least, the Isa- 

 bella, which should not be despised for its old age. The last 

 State Report says : " Varieties with, a thick skin are preferable- 

 for keeping, and among these noae have succeeded better than, 

 the Diana." 



GENEPvAL RESLARKS.. 



Having passed briefly over the series of fruits assigned to 

 to them, your Committee wish to add a few general remarks. 



