170 Prof. RusseWs Address before the 



southern latitude. In fine warm summers and autumns, like 

 the present, the famous Isabella would ripen finely, and give a 

 most delicious crop, but, ordinarily, it is comparatively a 

 doubtful variety, needing longer seasons to bring it to maturi- 

 ty. But our woods and river banks furnish very good varie- 

 ties of the fox grape, by many considered little inferior to the 

 Isabella. Choice sorts are occasionally to be met with among 

 our farmers, and these equally productive, under proper man- 

 agement. The grape needs a rich and moist soil; the refuse 

 of your factories furnish excellent materials for its culture. 

 Little or no pruning is best for our native kinds, merely keep- 

 ing the vines open and clear from dead wood. Better to have 

 well ripened fruit of an inferior variety on our tables, and for 

 domestic uses, than unripe and unwholesome of an uncertain 

 crop. The value of the grape to the farmer has not been duly 

 estimated. A little care regarding the kinds might cover his 

 walls with beauty and profit. Mr. Phinney, of Lexington, 

 has already set a noble example in this way, and his broad, 

 solid walls are exuberant in clustering vines and valuable fruit. 

 A farmer might raise a ton or more per annum, w'hich, at six 

 cents per pound, would afford no inconsiderable revenue. 

 Excellent wine can easily be made from these fruits as well as 

 from the currant, and, without any greater trouble, a beverage 

 far more salutary than that old fashioned product of the orchard, 

 hard cider. 



Of the culture of the plum, in this vicinity, I have no means 

 of judging. Gradual experiment can only decide whether such 

 a distance from the sea would be any objection. The plum is 

 a native of maritime districts, and thrives best in alluvial soils 

 in which are deposited marine substances. Its immense value 

 to the horticulturist, as an article for markel, is sufficient to 

 induce whatever experiments may be necessary for its growth. 



Pears need a rich soil, and warm, moist exposures. Cities 

 are particularly favorable to their growth. Small dwarf trees, 

 of the finer sorts, might be introduced into the culture of con- 

 fined areas. The superb St. Michael has been found to succeed 

 best in some old gardens in Boston, and, amidst all the diseas- 

 es now incident to the variety, to produce in such locations 

 the finest specimens of fruit. How far this disease, the blight, 

 may be overcome, remains to be proved. Could any meas- 

 ures be adopted to check its ravages on some of the finest 

 kinds of pears, they would be of a most important bearing on 

 the interests of horticulture. But, meanwhile, we have the 



