
SEIBEL 6905 
Everyone has heard that old saw about "the tail wagg- 
in' the dog". We started to grow grapes as a hobby, but 
by the fall of '46, we found ourselves attached to a very 
active tail’ We had discovered, through Philip M. Wagner's 
admirable "A Wine-Grower's Guide", the existance of the 
French-American hybrids. 
Altho known to some extent in this country prior to 
the last war, many of the better varieties had never been 
imported. Here was better than 70 years work on the most 
important fruit in the world, and practically unknown in 
the very area its results might be expected to benefit. 
Obviously the thing to do was give these new varieties a 
thorough trial. Overcoming (7) the difficulties of the 
French language, we corresponded with each prominent French 
hybridizer and finally arranged (with a nice garnish of red 
tape) for importations in '47, '48, and '49. Unfortunately 
our government instituted an embargo against the importation 
of this material from Europe effective Jan. 1, 1949 and 
several shipments, containing over 200 varieties, were held 
upe Luckily, we were able to have the USDA grow these in 
quarantine for us and we will ultimately be supplied with 
propagating material of each variety--we hope. 
Investigation also showed much work along the same 
lines by the Experiment Stations of New York, Missouri, 
and others. While some fine varieties have been released 
by these stations, most are still under trial. The USDA 
is also active in’ the same field. “It is gratifying to 
note that many other states are beginning extensive work 
with this fruit--among them are Illinois, Virginia, New 
Jersey, Washington, and Oklahoma. And Texas, of course. 
So we feel that that happy day is here when every 
man "can sit under his own vine and enjoy the fruit thereof", 
Among these many splendid varieties are some to fit every 
need and location in the eastern United States--whereever 
the vine may be grown. 
