86 APPENDIX. 



by their luxuriant growth and longer joints, while those 

 which will probably produce the best varieties are of much 

 slower growth, more delicate, and often die out in the first 

 summer, when left exposed to the drought and scorching sun 

 of our south-western climate. So there is no wonder why 

 the exertions of amateurs have been attended with so little 

 success in the production of better varieties of grapes from 

 seed. 



The production of hybrid grapes, by crossing our native 

 kinds with the European species, is a very uncertain process. 

 The flower is formed in such a way as to make it very diffi- 

 cult to decide whether the pistil is not already impregnated 

 by the surrounding anthers ; and it is very doubtful whether 

 there is yet one true hybrid grape in cultivation. Although 

 it is not impossible that such hybrids may be produced, but 

 we may be certain that the great number and very different 

 varieties of the European grapes are varieties of one and the 

 same botanical species, and not hybrids. So we have all 

 reason to hope that, by starting with our native grapes, we 

 may be able to produce sorts just as different and excellent, 

 either for table or wine, as those of Europe are, without 

 resorting to crossing the different species. 



The seeds should be selected from grapes of the greatest 

 perfection, in every respect, large, fine bunches, and perfectly 

 ripe, of the sort which the experimenter thinks most proper, 

 probably Catawba. They should be sown, as soon as washed 

 from the grapes, in four inch pots, in rich mould, not too thick, 

 and covered about one-fourth of an inch with the same soil. 

 These pots are to be kept always moist, and wintered in a 

 conservatory, or pit, or any other similar place, until spring, 

 when almost every grain will vegetate. They are then treated 

 like other tender seedlings. They require plenty of light, 

 and as much air as the weather will allow. From May or 

 June, they require protection from the sun. 



The weaker plants should never be pulled out for the pur- 



