18 



tained one or more. The kind usually grown was the 

 Labrusca, and is familiarly known by every one. It has 

 a peculiar flavor, that is pleasant in the early stages of 

 its ripening ; but at maturity, is strong and disagreeable 

 to most persons. This strong flavor is called by the 

 fruit growers "foxy," and by others "grapey." The La- 

 brusca bears the most palatable fruit of the three named 

 species. 



At the present time, we rarely find the native kinds 

 in cultivation, but they can be found along our country 

 road-sides, pastures and swamps. The varieties of the 

 V. vinifera (European Grape) , have been frequently 

 tried in various places in this country, have not flour- 

 ished and likewise have been discarded. But a race of 

 good grapes has appeared, one by one, beginning with 

 the Isabella, which was first circulated in 1818. 



With all the plants and animals that man has domesti- 

 cated, he has developed those qualities and parts most 

 necessary to his wants and desires, and he can do this 

 by selection, and giving to the subject all the conditions 

 that make it flourish. When the wild grapes were do- 

 mesticated, a change began, and having induced a vine to 

 take one step forward in its fruit, according to the theory 

 of Darwin, by sowing the seed, selecting the most im- 

 proved seedling and continuing the process, at last, we 

 would have a perfect grape, excellent in every particular. 

 This process is v^Siy slow. The experiments of Mr. 

 George Haskell, of Ipswich, are very interesting on this 

 point, and from them we learn how very slow is the pro- 

 cess of improving by selection. He has raised thousands 

 of seedlings of the wild grape in an open field, where 

 they could not have any influence from other kinds, and 

 raised several generations without any perceptible im- 

 provement. 



