^ 143 [Assembly 



garden of Mr. P. S. Van Rensselaer, of New Hamburgh, Dutchess 

 county, and among them were exhibited clusters of the "Grape 

 of Canaan," sometimes called the Palestine Grape, measuring 

 from the vine from 27 to 30 inches in length, and weighing from 

 5 to 7 pounds a cluster. 

 «. 

 The witnesses are therefore numerous in favor of the cultui-e 



and encouragement of the foreign grape vine in tliis country. 



The native grape of this country, when ripe, has a tendency to 

 acetous fermentation and decay. The juice of the foreign grape 

 is saccharine, Avith a tendency to granulate and to dry into 

 preservation. The grapes of this country generally require a sea- 

 eon of from about three to three and a half months to ripen. The 

 snccharine fluid of the foreign grape is slow in its ripening, and 

 requires a season according to varieties, of from three and a half 

 to six and seven months. The grape of Canaan and the purple 

 grape of Damascus will illustrate. Several years ago I endeav- 

 ored to grow these grapes with the Burgundy, Chasselas, and 

 others in the open air ; they grew, and In the hot months pro- 

 mised well, but the fruit of the former were cut off by frosts when 

 about half formed. We have since introduced them into our 

 cold vinery, where they are now growing with very fair success ; 

 they require a soil suited, great heat, and a season of from six to 

 leven months to ripen into full maturity. 



These facts will regulate the selection and the treatment of the 

 different varieties of the vine. England and ourselves might 

 now contest with the vineyards and the wine countries of the 

 continent, and win the premium on table grapes, for improvement 

 in size, tenderness of skin, virgin bloom, delicacy of fruit, and 

 equal flavor. Horticulture, with its ingenuity and the sciences 

 at hand, will not linger long behind the occasion. 



When Carolina and our southern friends shall have completed 

 their monument in memory of prejudice, persevering opposition 

 and unmitigated hostility to "internal improvements," their 

 more congenial soil and climate will enable them to reap the 

 harvest and take the premium for production and improvement 

 from us all. 



