52 



FRUITS. 



G RAPES. 



We are glad to perceive by the number and charac- 

 ter of the contributions offered for premium in this 

 department, that the interest in the cultivation of this 

 fruit has year by year, gradually increased. 



The two varieties that seemed to take the lead 

 for their superior qualities and perfection, were the 

 Concord and Delaware. The Concord appears to be 

 more generally cultivated, while the Delaware seems 

 to have been but recently introduced into this vicinity, 

 and its adaptedness to this locality therefore is not as 

 yet fully tested. But the plate of Delawares presented 

 by Mr. Emory, was certainly ripened to the greatest 

 perfection, and was invested with a sweetness and 

 deliciousness, that " melted with multiform flavor on 

 the palate." From the few specimens we have seen, 

 we confess a favorable leaning towards this variety, but 

 a general cultivation will of course better test its 

 various qualities. 



Our cold and variable New England climate, is 

 considered very unfavorable to the proper culture of 

 the grape. And it certainly is a serious obstacle to the 

 perfect ripening of our best American varieties ; while 

 the foreign grape can be perfected, only under glass. 

 Stern old winter with his unwelcome lingerings, chilling 

 as he does, with his cold breath, the breezes of May ; 

 and the early frosts of September which betoken his 

 returning footsteps, make up for us a year of which 

 well two-thircls are given over to the partial or complete 

 reign of the winter king. Such a climate is indeed 

 unfavorable not only to the highest perfection of the 

 grape, but to general vegetation also ; for many of our 

 staple crops, oftentimes suffer in consequence. 



