144 [Assembly 



show you have successfully availed yourself of these opportuni- 

 ties, in the drafts and in the coloring of the specimens preserved. 

 The stem, with the vine, the tendril, and the cluster of grapes j 

 and the cutting ; to engraft or to propagate, are the two figures of 

 each variety, on each folio page of the book. They are executed 

 with such precision of draft, and accuracy of coloring, as to ena- 

 ble the eye to determine many of the varieties, without a reference 

 to their names. It shows your ability with the pencil and the 

 brush, and gives material value to the volume. 



You seem to have copied your specimens very much as proba- 

 bly you found them, in the garden of the king of Wurtemberg. 

 The wine countries plant the vine without classification, as being 

 suited in their varieties, for tlie table grape or the wine press. 

 Climate compels England and ourselves here, to regard these dis- 

 tinctions. She cannot cultivate the wine grape in the open air 

 at home, and we cannot cultivate it, certainly, north of the Poto- 

 mac. The books afl'ord abundant information and instruction in 

 regard to the selection and the cultivation of .the wine grape. 

 That selection regards only the varieties to produce tlie diiferent 

 kinds of wine. Your volumes present these varieties, with many 

 interesting and useful specimens for that object. The southern 

 and western portions of this country have a soil and climate pecu- 

 liarly congenial to the mulberry and the vine. Tbe grape can- 

 not endure any frost on its spring blossoms or ripening fruit. 



England can only raise the talAe grapes of Europe with the aid 

 of her hot houses. It was the same case with ourselves. She 

 has made her selections for this purpose from the vineyards of 

 Europe J — especially regarding size of cluster, flavor of grape,- 

 and delicacy of fruit.' We, in this country, have made our selec- 

 tions very much from England, and with some additions. We 

 have the large Syrian grape, so beautifully copied in your book. 

 The large Smyrna grape, also, so well exhibited in your book, 

 remains to be obtained. Spain and Portugal have each imposing 

 specimens of the table grape. But the large inviting grape is 

 often tough, coarse, and without flavor. Whatever England has 

 so long rejected in her selections we must adopt with care. 



