34 KECORD OF HORTICULTURE. 



V. 

 GRAPE CULTURE. 



The past year has been one of tlie most severe upon the 

 grape known for a long time. The Avinter of 1865 and '60 

 was very cold, and destroyed many kinds that had been 

 heretofore considered hardy. Mildew followed in the sum- 

 mer, and at the East was very destructive in many sec- 

 tions. There was also a late spring frost in some places, 

 which entirely destroyed the crop. Add to this, an early 

 frost in autumn, which injured the crop of quite a number 

 of vineyards, and we certainly haAC misfortunes enough 

 for one season. Still, with all this devastation to contend 

 with, grapes have been quite abundant m our markets. 

 Our country is so large, and grape culture has become so 

 Avidely extended, that nothing less than a general deluge 

 can cause a complete failure. 



Grape culture may noAV be said to have become a fact 

 in America — it is one of its institutions, and a permanent 

 branch of home industry. The ephemeral oi* mania-like 

 appearance Avhich it assumed a few years since has passed 

 away, and cultivators begin to understantl Avhich are the 

 most ])i-ofitable vai'ieties. Probably the day of fancy 

 prices for new and untried varieties is past, and originators 

 of new kinds will have to show facts, as well as assert 

 them, before the masses will contribute to fill their pockets 

 in return for theii- new And untried bantlini^s. 



