VINEYARDS. 79 



localities at the present day, still retain this distinguishing 

 characteristic. 



In France the cultivation of the vine is very extensive. 

 Goodrich informs us, that 5,000,000 acres are devoted to that 

 object, and that the estimated value of the products in 1854, 

 amounted to !$130,000,000. Although in no other country is 

 there so large a part of the territory devoted to this object, 

 still, in nearly all the minor States «of Europe the grape furn- 

 ishes no inconsiderable part of the products of the soil. Plants 

 and seeds of foreign varieties were brought to this country by 

 colonists during the first fifty years after its settlement, but no 

 considerable attention seems to have been given to their propa-. 

 gation until after the close of the Revolutionary War. After 

 our forefathers had succeeded in throwing off the British yoke, 

 and obtained a name among the nations, their attention began 

 to be more especially directed to the cultivation of various kinds 

 of fruit. Among these (though not the most prominent,) was 

 the grape. Experience soon showed that these foreign varieties 

 would not withstand the severity of our stern New England 

 winters without protection ; and that our short and variable 

 summers, and early autumnal frosts, presented an insurmount- 

 able barrier to their successful cultivation, (except under glass.) 



These efforts in relation to grapes of foreign origin having 

 thus far failed, the attention of the fruit grower has been wisely 

 directed to the examination of our more hardy native varieties. 

 These, especially such as are found growing on the borders of 

 our New England streams, are more or less characterized by 

 the hardness of their pulp and a peculiar foxy flavor which 

 renders them as a dessert fruit, somewhat unpalatable. Expe- 

 rience however has shown that these objectionable qualities are 

 susceptible of being materially modified by cultivation. By a 

 careful selection of the most promising for propagation and by 

 reproduction, several new varieties have been obtained within 

 the last few years of acknowledged excellence, and well adapted 

 to our New England climate. Among those now propagated 

 in this vicinity, (more or less approved,) are the Concord, 

 Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Diana, Rebecca, and Early Amber. 



The two first of the above-named are undoubtedly the best 

 and most profitable for the market, possessing the three 

 important qualities of being hardy, good bearers, and holding 



