FRUITS. 129 



I find that fruit grafted on strong, rapidly growing stock, en- 

 tirely different from the scion, loses some of its original flavor; 

 perhaps more concisely s})eaking, its flavor is modified. Now 

 admitting this modification of the stock to be the law, may we 

 not use it to advantage ? 



If, for instance, we wish to plant a thousand apple-trees, say 

 Baldwins, if grafting must modify the flavor, may we not choose 

 the modifying influence ? Say graft first as many promiscuous 

 trees as we wish to plant, with scions of any kind we may fancy 

 as a modifier., and then in due time regraft with the kind 

 wanted, then shall we not have a uniform modification and at 

 the same time an advance in quality ? Of course these remarks 

 will apply alike to all kinds of grafted fruits. Speaking of graft- 

 ing, how great has been the improvement in that method of 

 propagation since the swingietow and clay have been superseded 

 by the artistic and sure method by which the operation is per- 

 formed. The fruits of our county are receiving, of late, a very 

 valuable reinforcement in the grape. How very short is the 

 time since hardly any one here knew anything about any other 

 than our native fox grapes, except through " hearsay evidence." 

 Now almost any choice, and many of the choicest varieties, are 

 so plentiful that it is almost difficult to sell them. 



This may be in part because the taste of the people has not 

 become educated ; but tlie amount is really abundant, so great 

 in our county that much has been sent to considerable distance 

 to find a market. No feature of our fair was more interest- 

 ing than that presented by our grapes. 



Our grapes are raised mostly in the towns of Greenfield, Shel- 

 burne, Sunderland, Deerfield, Montague and Leyden, all of 

 which towns were well represented. I hope it may not be amiss 

 to admonish fruit growers, especially growers of grapes, not to 

 multiply kinds recklessly ; better, after finding which are best, 

 stick to them, than to fill up your ground with doubtful va- 

 rieties. 



Of what use is it to try to cultivate for profit in our climate, 

 kinds that will not ripen before October ? The lona or Con- 

 cord, both excellent when perfect, cannot be relied upon here. 

 The same may be said of many other varieties presented at our 

 dirs by amateurs. And purchasers of stock for setting should 



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