The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-05-07

afraid that theinformation we can give YOU may
not be as exhaustive as you might desire, but we
will give near we can our experience of the
past season, and perhaps they may be an indica-
ton for future methods if not as thorough as we
should wish.
"Grape growing,as we are led to believe,is inits
infancy as yet in Florida. 1t does not seem as if
Judgement should be passed unreservedly as
CARDS the different varieties; for the ripper expert
ence of the grower. after he discovers the nature
of his soil, climate etc, and their adaptability to
the various varieties in regard to quality and pro
likeness, WILL of itself, determine the question,
what kind shall we cultivate and improve, what
kind cast aside as worthless for US.
'We will now answer thedifferent questionsyou
ASK as near right as in our power
lives always run low; do not remember of
their ever having paid shipper. The same holds
good about all black varieties. When they arrive
here they seem to have lost all their luster and
the appearance they present is not very attrac-
tive. Delaware grapes, last season, seemed to be
the most successful, as far as remember. They
arrived in very fair order, and being wanted sold
well.
1.-The price of grapes, matter where they may
come from, depends upon the quality and condi-
ton arrival and the demand in the market for
that particular kind Last season the price ruled
from 35 to so cents when in good order. These
remarks hold good about the Niagara grapes
shipped to this market last season. The prices for
them ranged the same as Delaware if in good
der. AS regards foreign grapes, if in good order
and well grown, they command fancy prices
The value of foreign grapes is indisputable.
Wherever there is hope that they may succeed
they should receive a trial. Notably among them
the Chasselas are the very earliest grape we have
and the most perfect market grape in existence.
Some succeed well with me- and the farther south
they will be taken the better they will do.
There are but few OF our native roots which can
really be called successful. We cannot in reason
expect any better from the foreign grape.
In conclusion may say. vineyard for profit
in Florida should, at present, consist of go per
cent. Niagara, so per cent. Delaware and 10 per
cent. Ives.
Varieties of the foreign Chasseas should be
tried, planted grated, according as they sue
coed. H. Won LUTTICHAU.
PAST AND FUTURE OF THE GRAPE IN FLORIDA.
Mr.. President and Members of the Florida Horti-
cultural Society:
The record OF the past is history and a fore
cast of the future is prophesy, and yet I am
neither an historian prophet
AS rule the present mimifes the past and
magnifies the future, and the present subject is
no exception to the rule. But in this case the
present entirely ignores the past. The rising gen.
GRAFTON of vineyardists in Florida arrOgate to
themselves the credit for all success attained in
their chosen pursuit in the State
quote Professor Dubois as representative
of the present. In his paper read before the State
horticultural Society at Ocaa he says Cup to
two or three years ago it seems to have been the
accredited opinion that only the clay hills of
Florida were suited to grapes, Just as it was be-
lieved some six or seven years ago that the Soup
pernong was the only grape for that same
tion. According to this writer it is only "two or
three years since it was discovered that bunch
grapes could be successfully grown elsewhere
than on "the clay hills of Florida" But more
than thirty years ago several vineyards
tablished along the ST. Johns River. In 1867 the
late A. 1. BidWell planted vineyard near Jack
sonville and three years later e. II. Mason also
of Duval county, planted a thousand vines and
such the success OF these that in 1874 he
planted 1000 more.
The object OF the present writing is,
First, to vindicate the claim of the pioneers in
this industry to recognition
Second, to place on record the leading facts
upon which this claim is based
Third, to place on record at least one protest
ag ainst these facts being ignored.
And now for a few of these facts
AS early as 1867 Geo. w. Atwood, of ST. Angus
tine, wrote to the Department of Agriculture at
oo1,i0 fOJIo 4,1oI