14 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 



indicate an ability to reach perfection in spite of sudden chan- 

 ges from extreme cold to burning heat. " In no part of the 

 world," says Lindley, " are the grapes more delicious than in 

 Candahar and Cabul ;" and yet the traveller speaks of the 

 " bitter cold wind and blazing fires at niglit" and " the burning 

 sun by day" in March, and the sun's heat at 140 in May, where 

 the grapes ripen as early as June. 



We may conclude then that the grape will, under favorable 

 circumstances, reach the greatest perfection, though exposed 

 to sudden changes and extremes of heat and cold. 



Having ascertained the conditions of soil and climate best 

 adapted to the successful culture of the vine, it has been my 

 aim, during the progress of the Geological Survey of Missouri, 

 to determine how far these conditions arc fulfilled in Missouri ; 

 to what extent and with what succes the vine may be cultivated 

 in our State, and the advantages to be derived from its culti- 

 vation. 



In order to secure the most accurate data for our conclu- 

 sions, our investigations have been directed to the following 

 subjects : 



1. The characters and habits of all our native vines, and the 

 soils on which they succeed best, have been carefully noted. 



2. Five persons* have been appointed to make meteorologi- 

 cal observations ; one at Springfield in the south-west, one at 

 Cape Girardeau in the south-east, one at Palmyra in the north- 

 east, one at St. Joseph in the north-west, and one at Colum- 

 bia in the centre, in the valley of the Missouri river. These 

 observers have been supplied with the very best instruments, 

 and they have made and recorded their observations according 

 to the plan adopted by the Smithsonian Institute. 



3. The experience of our most successful vine-growers, has 

 been collected, and the results carefully compared with the 



* It gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the disinterested labors of 

 those who have so faithfully observed and recorded the meteorological pheno- 

 mena at the stations above named. Our State will be under many obligations 

 to the Rev. G. P. Comings, of St. Paul's College, Palmyra; Rev. James 

 Knoud, of St. Vincent's College, Cape Girardeau ; J. A. Stephens, Esq., of Spring- 

 field ; E. B. Neely, A.M., of the St. Joseph High School ; and Miss M. B. Hill, 

 at Columbia, who have made the observations at their several localities. 



