252 ANNUAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST. 



the material used in some localities for that purpose. The 

 bark is divided into thin strips about three-fourths of an inch 

 wide, and these are woven across the chair after the manner of 

 basket work. 



There is another subject in economic botany that deserves 

 to be looked into more thoroughly than the writer was able to 

 do in the brief time at his disposal; that is, the utilization of nat- 

 ural fruits, and the cultivation of those already known. The 

 fruit of the wild plum [Primus americana), several of the red 

 haws [Cratcegus\, the muscadine ( Vitis vulpind), the persimmon 

 [Diospyros virginiana), and the black haw [Viburnum prunifo- 

 liuni) are, to say the least palatable ; and some of these and 

 many other trees would undoubtedly make excellent stocks 

 for the grafting of the best varieties of fruit now cultivated. 



The natural adaptation of the upland soil to the cultivation 

 of fruit is undoubtedly great, as may be inferred from the 

 original vegetation, and as demonstrated by the success of the 

 little that is already cultivated. Unfortunately there seems to 

 be an apathy among the farmers to the innovation of growing 

 fruit for a distant market, and usually, too, those who have 

 attempted it have not been careful to procure the varieties 

 best adapted for such purposes. But for those who will go at 

 the matter energetically and carefully, there is an excellent 

 opening. 



