51 



favorable for this fruit than here, exi^erience has proved to 

 them that grapes can only be grown with any amount of ccr-^ 

 tainty upon the rockiest and driest hillsides. Again we 

 think that experience has proved to us that only the most 

 hardy vines of our purely native species, (the Lobrusca,) can 

 be depended upon for a term of years. This may not be the 

 decision of the whole Committee, for we know that many 

 still adhere firmly to the Rogers and other hybrids, but those 

 of us who have for years made the growing and testing of 

 vines a business, are careful not to invest largely in any grape 

 of foreign parentage ; and wheji any new grape presents it- 

 self as the "best yet introduced," the first inquirj'^ should be, 

 does it inherit foreign blood from either of its parents ? If 

 so, it will most likely inherit a feeble constitution, followed 

 by mildew and an early death. Careful cultivators may, and 

 often do, succeed for years with these high blooded grapes, 

 but they require constant watchfulness, and a good covering 

 every winter is indispensable. We would not by these re- 

 marks discourage any from raising this, one of the most 

 healthful and delicious of all fruits, but would rather encour- 

 age every one whose circumstances will permit, to do it intel- 

 ligently — to select none but the most approved hardy varie- 

 ties, and plant and cultivate as experience has proved best 

 for this locality. The discouragements which seemed to hang 

 over us a few 3'ears ago in the shape of blight and mildew, 

 have in a great measure passed away, and we can but hope 

 that a " new era in grape culture " is about to dawn upon us. 

 There were but few peaches presented this year, the crop 

 having been very nearly a failure, and only the latest ones 

 could be kept for this exhibition. This crop, which is gen- 

 erally considered ijncertain in New England, has for several 

 years past been a partial success, especially in certain high, 

 dry locations in this vicinity, where an entire failure has not 

 occurred for something over twenty years before. Just 

 warmth enough to swell the fruit buds at a certain time dur- 

 ing Avintcr, and then a sudden freeze afterwards, was evi- 



