142 ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW FRUITS. 



may diminish in a small degree, the quality of the fruit be- 

 comes of a higher flavor and richer quality. 



If the question be asked, what kind, whether foreign or na- 

 tive grapeSy should be sought for cultivation, the Committee 

 unhesitatingly answer the native. In fact, the question prac- 

 tically is, native or none. Those able to possess green bouses 

 may gratify themselves with grapes of other climes, and the 

 Committee would say with all earnestness, let them do it, they 

 will thereby add something to their own comfort, something 

 perhaps to their wealth, and often by their liberal distribution 

 to the sick and well, will greatly increase the amount of human 

 enjoyment. But of foreign, there never has and at present there 

 cannot be anything like a general diffusion or liberal supply of 

 i\us fruit. The cultivation of the foreign kinds costs more time 

 and money than the great body of the community have to bes- 

 tow. What changes time, increase of knowledge, and change of 

 habits may produce, the Committee do not undertake to say, but 

 they have no hesitation in committing themselves so far as- to say 

 that the time has not yet come, and will not soon come, when 

 there will be any general supply of any grapes, but those of the 

 native kind, and they are ready to say, that they do not think 

 this fact need be attended with any great sorrow or grief. 

 They are not sure, separate from the influence of preju- 

 dice and habit, that the far off are better than the near 

 BY, certainly not in the state in which we can have them. 

 The avidity v<^ith which the grapes oi this country are sought 

 when they can be obtained from the woods and wild places a- 

 bout, the gladness, with which they are received, when gra- 

 tuitously bestowed, the price which they demand when ex- 

 posed in market, are sufficient proofs that the fruit as it grows 

 in this state, is in sufficient demand to justify an extensive cul- 

 tivation of it, and to leave no just ground of grief, that we 

 cannot possess those which adorn and bUess other lands. God 

 has divided these things as it has pleased him, and the Com- 

 mittee are fully persuaded that He has not left us in this par- 

 ticular without witness that He is good, and that with Him there 

 is no respect of persons. They must believe the grape of this 

 country jx»ssesses as m'any valuable properties as those of 



