50 



VINEYARDS. 



our forefathers had succeeded in throwing off the 

 British yoke, and obtained a name among the nations-, 

 their attention began to be more especially directed to 

 the cultivation of various kinds of fruit. Among these 

 (though not the most prominent,) was the Grape. Expe- 

 rience soon showed that these foreign varieties would 

 not withstand the severity of our stern New England 

 winters without protection ; and that our short and vari- 

 able summers, and early autumnal frosts, presented an 

 unsurmountable barrier to their successful cultivation, 

 (except under glass.) These efforts in relation to Grapes 

 of foreign origin having thus far failed, the attention 

 of the fruit grower has been wisely directed to the 

 examination of our more hardy native varieties. These, 

 especially such as are found growing on the borders of 

 our New England streams, are»more or less characterised 

 by the hardness of their pulp and a peculiar foxy-flavor 

 which renders them as a dessert fruit, somewhat unpalat- 

 able. Experience however has shown that these objec- 

 tionable qualities are susceptable of being materially 

 modified by cultivation. By a careful selection of the 

 most promising for propagation and by reproduction, 

 several new varieties have been obtained within the 

 last few years of ackowledged excellence, and well 

 adapted to our New England climate. Among those 

 now propagated in this vicinity, (more or less approved,) 

 are the Concord, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Diana 

 Rebecca, and Early Amber. 



The two first of the above named are undoubtedly 

 the best and most profitable for the market. Possessing 

 the three important qualities of being hardy, good 

 bearers, and holding their fruit well. Several other 

 new varieties, not yet fully tested, have recently been 



