The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-12-05
SoMR FAR.RRACHING EXPERT.
MENTS IN AGRICULTURE.


OF Agriculture, during the fiscal year
1899, $50, 900 for the collection, pur-
chase, propagation, end distribution Of
rare and valuable seeds, bulbs, trees,
shrubs, vines, cuttings, and plants
from foreign lands, with the view to
their acclima5ization and introduction
into this country. To further this
work Secretary Wilson has founded a
Section of S9ed and Plant Introduction,
under the direct care of the Division
OF Botany, and for this section several
agricultural explorers" have been
sent, or are now in, various foreign
countries. It is not so much in the
field of the domestication OF wild or
little known plant life that the Sscre-
tary has wisely determined to expend
the fund at his disposal as in that of
the Introduction into our land of useful
plants already else where domesticated
and thoroughly proved to be Of great
agricultural value. One of the ex =
plorers sent out is Mr.. W. T. Swingle,
cessful trip in the countries bordering
both shores Of the Mediterranean, has
returned laden with material and data
of the greatest possible value. Many
Of the discoveries will benefit agricul-
ture in North Carolina and the South
From a preliminary report made by
him many of the following facts are
taken, as condensed for the Scientific
American:
FINER TABLE GRAPES.
Notwithstanding the great progress
made in the improvement of the native
grapes, we yet have nothing compar-
able in favor or general market value
to the fancy European stock derived
from varieties of the species Wits vini
fera. Being less hardy than our native
species, these foreign varieties have
not 80 we'll withstood the attacks of
the dreaded phylloxera and other enc
mics to the vine. TIE French viticul
turists long since discovered that a
remedy lay in grating the European
on selected American stocks, which
are almost proof against such attacks.
In this way the resisting qualities of
the stock are combined with the high
quality of the graft, and it has been
discovered Gk at the combination is also
more prolific than were the European
varieties before the advent Of phyl-
Ioxera.
Mr.. SWing!e has secured upward Of
2 600 plants of 119 of the best varieties,
all grated on specially selected Ameri-
can stock. These are to be thoroughly
tested in chosen localities in North
Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Kan
sas, under the direction of the Division
of Pomology. Careful observations
will be made, so that these varieties
may be eventually distributed to the
regions best adapted for them, and it
is hoped, with confidence, that they
can be established in many parts Of the
South, and that table grape culture
can be greatly extended by the culture
of these superior European sorts.
General interest will be felt in the
South and Southwest in the methods of
corinth Commonly called guaranty
culture in Greece and Turkey, and the
Importation of the best sorts of this
vine, which it is hoped to make next
winter. At present we import Of
wines, corinths, raisins and fresh
grapes, an aggregate of over IS $50, 600
a year. No inconsiderable part Of this
great amount is that which GOES to pay
for corinths and and seedless rRisins.
1t is agreed, and with reason, that not
only ought We to be able to produce
all these commodities needed for cur
home consumption, but We should bs
able, in time, to add them to our ar
t.cles of export.
Certain new by brid varieties, crossed
between the delicate high grade Euro
pean and the hardy American grapes,
the so-called Franco American" vari
eties, have also been obtained, and
much is hoped from them, since the re.
sistance Of the American parent is to a
certain extent combined with the fine
quality OF the European parent in their
offspring.
EVER BEARIF STRAWBERRIES.
o. great interest to ths suburbanite
and the amateur fruit culturist, al
though not likely to prove attractive
to truckers and market gardeners, is a
large, ever bearing strawberry, much
esteemed and very successfulin in France.
The plauta of this variety produce fruit
for some months each year, and
small patch will yield ali the season.
In this connection it is interoe ting to