FRUIT. 209 



years old, grown in the open ground ; they are better than 

 vines older or younger, and you may rely upon it that the 

 above statement is correct, whatever interested parties and 

 dealers may tell you to the contrary ; and most of them will 

 tell you that any variety and of any age that they may have a 

 stock of, is just what you want ; but rely upon your own judg- 

 ment, or upon some friend who understands the matter, and 

 select a variety or varieties that are hardy, early, prolific, 

 handsome fruit and bunch, good quality, berries adhering well 

 to the stem, a vigorous grower, and not subject to mildew. 

 With such a variety, well planted in a good high location, with 

 an aspect towards the west, south or east, you will be pretty 

 sure to succeed. If you decide to purchase some of the new 

 varieties, do not be disappointed if they do not come up to the 

 statements of the venders ; for if you do not expect it, you 

 will have to buy many of different kinds, to find one that is 

 better than some of the old varieties. I do not mean to say I 

 would not buy any of the new varieties, but simply that such 

 purchases be on a small scale, until satisfied of their worth. 



Good grapes will always sell here for a fair price, both for the 

 table and for wine. Concord grapes are now retailing from 

 twenty to twenty-five cents per pound in Boston ; and in these 

 hard times, with the market full of Catawba and Isabella grapes 

 from the "West, which are retailing from twelve to fourteen 

 cents per pound, good Concords are better than Western 

 Catawbas or Isabellas after being transported from the West 

 here. 



The president of your society, Mr. Bull, who you well know 

 has devoted a large portion of his time and means for the 

 improvement of the grape, by raising new varieties from the 

 seed, without resorting to the process of hybridization with 

 the foreign varieties, which are not near as hardy as the Amer- 

 ican grapes, invited your committee, as has been his custom 

 heretofore, to examine his new seedlings, many of which bear 

 fruit the present year. His method is to let them take their 

 chance in the winter without any protection whatever, believing 

 that any variety not hardy enough to stand the winter is not 

 worth growing. At the time of our visit, there were quite a 

 number of the new seedlings bearing fruit, which were of 

 various colors. Among them we tested some thirteen varieties 



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