Azotes and Gleanings. 167 



life ; yet it can be, it must be, it will be, done : to which consummation we invoke 

 English sparrows, human laws, and human energies, until it is fully demonstrated 

 that the evil is under control. When we do all this, when we plant belts of 

 evergreens to do the work of protection, when we take the pains that our breth- 

 ren do across the water, then we shall see that our climate will do its part. 



For the peach, Mr. Cabot takes us to France. Without looking mournfully 

 into the past, may we not go even as far as New Jersey for a comparison } Can 

 it be denied that there are wide sections of our country which are the very home 

 of the peach ? The flavor is admitted to be superior. 



In regard to apples and pears, Mr. Cabot expresses the opinion that tliey are 

 grown with eminent success in both countries, and he is undecided as to an 

 advantage on either side. Be it remembered, then, that he does not yield the 

 palm even to Belgium. 



Concerning the grape, Mr. Cabot is more emphatic, and does assert that the 

 grapes of France "are vastly superior, and are raised with infinitely more suc- 

 cess " than they can be in the United States, excepting on the Pacific coast. 

 Herein we must differ point-blank. This is partially a difference of taste. I 

 well remember, while under the training of my most esteemed friend some years 

 since, the trial of any new native grape did not conduce to the symmetry and 

 harmony, not to say beauty, of his facial expression ; indeed, I may say that in- 

 dications of positive disgust were not infrequent. Now, I am differently consti- 

 tuted. I like the Isabella when in perfection. A perfect lona is, to my taste, bet- 

 ter than a Black Hamburg : it has character and aroma, which are wanting in the 

 Hamburg. So is the Catawba exceedingly fine when perfectly ripe, such as we 

 receive by tons upon tons from the Lake Shores every autumn, sometimes sold 

 as low as fifty dollars per ton in Boston. Upon this point I leave the facts to 

 speak for themselves. 



In thus presuming to differ somewhat from the opinions of one whose good 

 judgment I esteem so highly, it is proper to say that I have by no means the 

 same advantage in forming a judgment ; yet I can but think that the ease with 

 which he can command fine fruit in Europe with the aid of a well-filled purse, 

 in contrast with the remembrance of care and sometimes disappointment in the 

 production of former years, has had some influence in inducing him to think that 

 the last is the better way. 



After all, it is not a question which country will produce most fruit with the 

 least labor. We must have fruit, and have it we will. There are great discour- 

 agements. Immense effort is required. We have fallen upon evil times, the 

 soil is not virgin, insect-life is almost infinite, the winds have an almost unbroken 

 sweep, the moisture-provoking and moisture-retaining forests have disappeared : 

 but we accept the situation ; we fight it out on that line. Yea, we take cour- 

 age, and thank God that it is as well as it is. W. C. Strong. 



NoNANTUM Hill. 



