140 ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW FRUITS. 



While the Committee mention these exceptions to their gen- 

 eral remarks, and have no doubt they would be esteemed as a 

 valuable variety in most gardens, and meet with a welcome 

 on most tables, still they do not think them of such decided 

 worth as to entitle them to the awards offered by the Society. 



The grapes presented by Dr. Sanborn, were without ques- 

 tion the kind known in the northern part of the county, as 

 the Walker grape, and such the Committee believe to be the 

 case with two or three other specimens, especially those exhi- 

 bited by Mr. John Adams, of Newbury. This is a valuable 

 fruit, and is somewhat extensively cultivated, but unhappily 

 under a considerable variety of names. The Committee will 

 have occasion to advert to this fruit again in a subsequent part 

 of this report. 



From considerations, which the Committee believe if set 

 forth would justify them, they propose to fill out their report 

 by some rather disconnected remarks on the cultivation of the 

 grape in this county. They will commence by stating it as 

 their deep conviction that an enlightened regard to the pros- 

 perity, health, enjoyment, and morals of the community, would 

 lead to an increased attention to the cultivation of fruit, and 

 when the observation is true in regard to fruit generally, it is 

 specially and emphatically so in regard to the grape. For in 

 the first place the soil regarded chemically is known to possess 

 to a great extent, and a rich degree, the elements which are 

 required to give a vigorous and healthful growth, both to the 

 wood and fruit of the vine. It is also believed there is quite 

 as great an extent of territory adapted to the culture of this, as to 

 that of any other produce. This adaptation of soil to grape 

 culture, made manifest by its chemical constituents is still 

 more forcibly impressed upon us by the fact that the vine 

 springs up, grows rapidly, and produces abundantly in every 

 part of the county, in spite of all the violences that are in one 

 form or other practised upon it. It is doubtful whether there 

 is a farmer, we might almost say a gardener, who, if he 

 would suffer the vines to live and grow, that spring up of 

 their own accord, but would in a very few years have an a- 

 bundant supply of this delicious and highly valuable fruit. 



