374 Wisconsin state agricultural society . 
abandoned, and pomologists began their experiments for the im¬ 
provement of our native species. 
The great turning point of vine culture in this country was the 
introduction of the Catawba grape by Maj. Adlum, who consid¬ 
ered that by it, he had conferred a greater benefit upon the 
American people than he would to have paid off the national 
debt. 
From this point our progress has been marked and certain; at 
first slow and doubting, but accelerated as success followed suc¬ 
cess, until now it is rapid and assured ; each year adding new and 
choice varieties, many of them by hybridizing with the foreign 
varieties, thus in part gaining what we failed to accomplish in the 
attempts to acclimate them. 
The question of the successful cultivation of the grape in this 
country should be considered as no longer a doubtful matter, for 
our experience proves that no fruit can be more generally grown, 
with hope of annual crops. We know that some sections, from 
local causes, are better adapted to its culture than others; but 
this is also true of all fruits. As an example, in our own state, 
peaches have long since been out of the question even in the few 
favored localities where once found; while a general crop of 
apples, pears, plumbs and other fruits borne on trees, is an 
exception rather than a rule. But with the grape it is the 
reverse; we look for its fruit with each returning season and are 
seldom disappointed. 
IN WISCONSIN. 
Our state is most favoraly located for grape growing; situated 
as we are a thousand miles from the sea, no cold ocean winds reach 
us; our atmosphere is dry and clear; the sun light pure and 
bright. Our hot summers are adapted to the rapid growth 
required in the full developement of the vine and its fruit, 
forcing growth with mavelous rapidity from a soil that seems just 
adapted to the grape; while our cool nights and dry atmosphere 
are especially favorable in keeping them comparatively free from 
the diseases which attack the vine in less favored localities. 
The great hindrance to grape culture would seem to be our rig¬ 
orous winters; and this alone has unquestionably prevented 
