90 



We are especially in favor of progress, but not fitful or ret- 

 rograde. Not every change is an improvement, and if disas- 

 trous the goal of perfection is farther off. The fact that some 

 species of the vine are supposed to be indigenous to these 

 Northern regions, is not evidence conclusive for paying suc- 

 cess in cultivation. All seeds from even torrid climes have 

 only to be deposited elsewhere by any agents, and under prop- 

 er conditions with heat and moisture, they will germinate ; and 

 if a portion are sufficiently hardy to withstand our winters in 

 some protected locations, they yet may not mature fruit, ow- 

 ing to too short and cold seasons. Hence many things native, 

 are not natural, or in other words, congenial ; and are, there- 

 fore, accidental and out of place. Adaptation is essential to 

 success. 



Our seedlings and crosses may be sweeter and more profita- 

 ble raised farther South ; and while we hope for others more 

 promising, it is doubtful if farmers can depend on such as are 

 now before them, for profit, compared with the average income 

 on other products better suited to our soil and climate. It 

 seems to us that the apple must still be our first fruit for do- 

 mestic use and export ; and we predict a value to its refined 

 juice as a beverage, hitherto unknown. 



Opinions, however, are of no account opposed to facts and 

 figures. Isolated cases of remunerative vineyards for given 

 years are occasionally published, but not many of these are 

 east of the Hudson valley ; nor do we see reports at all from the 

 ninety-nine persons who have more or less vines. So general is 

 the infatuation that probably one-half of our population who 

 own land have from one to half a dozen vines, for which they 

 paid as many dollars — and these are their reports, though not 

 in print : A's rot, B's mildew, C's drop, and so on to the end 

 of the alphabet. Indeed, this Northern grape tax, including 

 the preparation of the soil, which is often unnecessarily expen- 

 sive, must be thousands upon thousands of dollars over any in- 

 come from the same source. 



It was reported to the Committee that some of the best 



