FLOEIDA CULTUKE. 



The Hon. A. G. Semines, of Florida, has been experi- 

 menting with Grapes in open culture in that section of 

 the United States, and with marked success. The reader 

 of the following remarks, (extracted from letters to the 

 author of this book,) will see, that, notwithstanding his 

 vineyard has been destroyed by a terrific gale, enough 

 has been proved, to show that the vine in its richest va- 

 rieties will repay the cultivator for his efforts. 



Apalachicola, June 29, 1850. 

 " On receiving the cuttings of the Josling's St. Albans, 

 enclosed in your letter, I found two of them alive, which 

 I grafted on wild stocks ; they took at once, and are now 



instance, the Black Hamburgh grape cannot well be surpassed in richness 

 of quality, when well grown, in this country. It is generally spoken of as 

 a very desirable kind to cultivate, on account of its hardiness ar d good 

 bearing qualities, and not of its being anything more than a good grape ; 

 " though not of the very first quality," is the term often used respecting it, 

 in England. The Esperione is there spoken of as but little inferior to tlie 

 Hamburgh. In Massachusetts, it is very inferior, and not worthy of a 

 place iu the front border of the house, but on the back wall, where its 

 roots can be kept quite dry, the quahty is better ; in a position where its 

 roots are situated in a soil, as regards moisture, more unlike that of Eng' 

 laud, it approaches more nearly to the quality of the fruit there. If heat 

 caused the difference iu the Hamburgh, why does it not in the Esperione? 

 I presume that the soil of a country has some effect, as well as the sun and 

 heat, in effecting these changes. It is not confined to any one fruit, but 

 the change is noticed iu apples, pears, grapes, peaches, cherries, and other 

 kinds. 



