THE GRAPE. 



119 



that a certainty of gaining the desired purpose of 

 naturalizing the foreign grape can be vouched from 

 any practical authority or experiment that has been 

 made under my knowledge ; but from an actual ex- 

 perience of many plants that have become hardened 

 and naturalized by nearly the same treatment, I see 

 no reason why the grape may not be brought to 

 stand the climate in the like manner. 



Art. 8. — Diseases of the Grape. 



From general observation and many experiments 

 I have been fully convinced that the native grapes, 

 here recommended, when well cultivated, are sel- 

 dom injured either by disease or insects, that most 

 kinds of eatable fruits are subject to ; and that most 

 kinds of foreign grapes, on the contrary, are affect- 

 ed by many diseases and insects, in a manner that 

 will ever discourage their culture in the vineyard or 

 open exposure, unless they can be naturalized to the 

 climate. On a deliberate examination of the grape 

 vine, T think the above remarks may be fully au- 

 thenticated, and it will be found that the native 

 grape vine is naturally of a more hardy and compact 

 texture in its wood, leaves, berries, and indeed, in 

 every part, than the foreign varieties : hence mildew 

 and insects are not so likely to infect the native as 

 the foreign grape. I am firmly of opinion that 

 the casualties that happen to the grape, generally are 

 more owing to the feeble nature of the vine, than 

 any blights or insects that attack it at any period of 

 its growth, although at the same time I am aware 

 that the most healthy vines are often affected by 

 disease and insects, in a greater or less degree. By 



