REMARKS. 



The prominent object to which public attention is now called is Vineyard Culture, for which purpose none 

 but the Indigenous species and varieties, of a perfectly rustic character, are appropriate — they alone possessing 

 the hardihood and the freedom from mildew and from other objections which apply invariably to every Foreign 

 variety, and, so far as yet proven, to every American variety grown from the seed of the tender and feeble 

 Vilis vinifera. 



No greater blight could be inflicted on our prospective Vineyard Culture, than the recommendation for 

 that object of such feeble growing Vines, subject to mildew in open culture, as the Delaware, Rebecca, Clara, 

 Emily', Brinckle, &c. The failures which would inevitably result from such injudicious selections would occasion 

 such discouragement to Cultivators, that American Wine Culture would be thrown back ten years at least. 

 These varieties, though possessed of nearly all the desirable qualities that have been ascribed to them, are only 

 adapted to special Garden culture, where they can be trained on walls or protected trellises, but they will 

 never succeed in open unprotected field culture . 



In the Selections to be made of Varieties for the Table and for the Vineyard, it would be unreasonable to 

 expect that the qualities most desirable for each of these purposes could be found combined in the same fruit, 

 when the requisites are so very dissimilar. The largest, most tender, sweet, and melting varieties are desired 

 for the dessert, whereas it is those least sweet, but most brisk, sprightly and aromatic, and often those quite 

 austere and astringent, that yield the choicest wines. Furtheimore, there is no celebrated Wine grape if 

 large size, they all being quite small or medium, a fact that can be rationally explained. 



Acclimation. — In this regard there exist very erroneous views. No Plant or Animal has ever been accli- 

 mated in the existing race by any change of location ; as such amelioration attaches only to their progeny. 

 Seminal reproduction can alone eflect any such change, and then only gradually through succeeding genet ations. 

 This results from a great natural Law, by which every Animal, Tree, or Plant, partakes in a degree of the char- 

 acter of the climate and soil where it is generated. 



The acclimation and improvement of the Persian Grape (Vitis vixifer.a) to its present condition in France, 

 has been a labor of 20CO years, and to render it hardy and vigorous enough to sustain our climate (if such a 

 result were possible) would require at least another 1GO0 years. What lolly, then, would it be lor us to look to 

 the feeble productions of uncongenial climes, as the hopeful parents of a hardy and vigorous progeny suitable 

 to withstand the rigors of an American winter, and the peculiarities of our summer climate. 



Should we not rather look to the robust and vigorous species of the Vine which God himself has planted 

 everywhere in the American forest, and which spring up wildly throughout every region of our country, 

 mounting the loftiest trees, and spreading their tendrils far and wide? When the Deity in his wisdom placed 

 only one species of the Vine in the Eastern Hemisphere, and planted eight species in North America, shall we 

 question His intelligence, as thus manifested, by a disregard to the rich treasure he has thus imparted to us? 

 Or. shall we not rather seek, by the seminal productions which must result from our superior advantages, to 

 obtain new and exquisite varieties of the grape, which shall surpass in size, beauty, and flavor, anil especially 

 in hardihood and robust character, all which Europe has yet been able to present either in the shape of fruit 

 for the dessert,. or in that of the most delicious and exhilarating Wines? 



It is now about forty years since William Prince named and introduced the Isabella Grape to public, notice. 

 That Vine was then supposed to be of Southern origin, but our investigations have since satisfied us that it is a 

 Northern Vine and a native of this State. In the year 1810, William R. Prince, aided by William Prince, pub 

 lished " A Treatise on the Vine." a volume of 355 pages octavo, in which he demonstrated the fact, that " God 

 has preeminently stamped our country as the land of the Vine." He urged most ardently upon his country- 

 men the immediate formation of extensive Vineyards, for the attainment of three objects : First — To increase 

 the national wealth by superseding the vast importation of adulterated wines and alcoholic mixtures. Secondly — 

 To furnish a cheap and innocent domestic beverage with the gently exhilarating qualities given to the juice of 

 the grape by the Creator. Thirdly — That the universal adoption of a pure beverage, restorative of physical 

 and mental exhaustion, might have the same opportunity here of producing the result universal in the wine- 

 producing countries of Europe, viz., the extinction of intemperance as a national characteristic. 



But our country was not then prepared to appreciate and adopt this important branch of Agricultural In- 

 dustry. We were an entire age too soon in then urging its adoption. 



DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF GKAPES, 



A new edition, far surpassing the 44th edition of 1859-60, will be pub- 

 lished in February, 1861, and will be sent to applicants who enclose 

 25 cents. 



The Wholesale Catalogue of Grapes, &c, for Nurseries and Vine- 

 yards, is now ready. Also, the Catalogues of all the other Departments. 



WM. R. PRINCE & CO., 



FLUSHING. 



