EVOLUTION OF GRAPE TRAINING 



391 



p . 



tin- first definite attempt was made ill Adlum's 

 "Memoir 011 the Cultivation of the Vine in Amer- 

 iea." to record the merits of native grapes for 

 purposes of cultivation.* Even Adlum's book 

 was largely given to a discussion of European 

 varieties and practices. In 1846 "Thomas' Fruit 

 Culturist" mentioned only six "American hardy 

 varieties,' 1 and all of these, excepting the Catawba, 

 art- practically not in cultivation at the present 

 time. The Concord appeared in 1853. American 

 grape training is, therefore, a very recent develop- 

 ment, and we are only now 

 outgrowing the influence 

 of the practices early im- 

 ported from Europe. The 

 first decided epoch in the 

 evolution of our grape 

 training was the appear- 

 ance of Fuller's "Grape 

 Culturist," in 1864 ; f or 

 while the system which he 

 depleted, and which yet 



often bears his name, was 



but a modification of 



-r, 



European methods, and 



had been outlined by earlier American writers, it 



i r that time placed clearly and cogently b ef ore 



254. The first American 



P ictures of e ra P e pruning 



and training. 



*Persons who are interested in the historical development of American 

 grape-growing, may consult the author's "Sketch of the Evolution of our 

 Native l-'n; 



