Now the usual product of an acre of the small fruits, (strawberries being the most profitable,) is only about $300 to $500, generally less than $200. At and near Philadelphia, native grapes, for the last ten years, have been less profitable than any other small fruit, for the reason that there has been no success in their culture. Since writing my first article on this subject, I have learned many facts which sustain the statements then made.

At a meeting of the Fruit Growers' Society Of Eastern Pennsylvania, held at Lancaster, Feb. 5th, the question was directly presented to the Society, whether native grapes could be cultivated in vineyards, on an extended scale, with profit There were present several extensive dealers in native grape vines, and numerous cultivators of the vine for market fruit. Not one person could be found to say a single word in favor of the profit of native grape culture, in the open field, for market purposes. On the contrary, several leading cultivators and dealers in vines, candidly confessed that the chance of profit from this source was more than doubtful. Mr. R. A. Grider, of Bethlehem, stated that he had a vineyard of seven acres, now seven years planted, which he considered a total failure as to profit, his greatest product, owing to injuries from frost, mildew, and insects, having been only about $50 per acre, and even this he was apprehensive he should never see again. Mr. Grider is a very intelligent man, and a skillful cultivator.

The sketch which he gave of his misfortunes in grape culture, of the killing frosts, the blighting mildew, the destructive insects, the fungus, excrescences, rot, and other "moving accidents," which had attended his experience, exceeded any thing we have before heard, in this way, from any quarter. The beetles, borers, saw-flies, grubs, curculios, and other cutting, gnawing, boring, and leaf-devouring insects which had infested his vineyard, were some of them new and remarkable in i their character, and altogether presented an army of enemies truly appalling. I have since heard of many failures, in vineyard culture, near Philadelphia, and I have yet to hear of a single case of positive and satisfactory success.

But what is the fact at Cincinnati? Is the success and profit very great there? By no means. There is much mildew and rot there, and vast destruction by vine beetles; and the total product per acre, in a successful season, in far less than the product of a decent acre of strawberries. I have the facts and figures before me, right fresh from Cincinnati, and from an authority which I presume will not be questioned.

R. Buchanan, Esq., of Cincinnati, writing under date of Feb. 15, 1862, makes the following precise statement:

"I cultivate seven acres, 20,000 vines. My vineyard is in a good position. For fifteen years it has averaged 308 gallons of wine to the acre, which has been sold at $1.00 to $1.50 per gallon for the best. About one-sixth is inferior and sells at half-price.

"Our average in well-cultivated vineyards is about 200 gallons to the acre, which is the same as in France and Germany".

From this it appears that the best cultivator in Ohio scarcely realizes $300 worth of wine from an acre of vineyard, even after all the trouble and expense of manufacturing the grape juice; and other well-cultivated vineyards obtain less than $200. Now what must be the product of the common vineyards, where the vineyardist is compelled to sell his grape juice to the wine-makers, at what he can get, instead of making wine himself? Grape juice is more perishable than green peas, and if not of good quality, cannot be sold at 50 cents a gallon. What luck, also, for the poor vineyardist, when he gets frosted, mildewed, and bug-eaten?

In France and Germany the product, Mr. Buchanan tells us, is the same per acre as in Ohio. We knew this before; and we knew further, that vineyardists, or vine-cultivators, (not often the owners of the land,) and the fishermen and shrimp-gatherers of the world, are universally about on a par as to the profit to be obtained from their respective pursuits.

A few words of personal explanation, in conclusion. This discussion appears to place me in the attitude of a determined opponent of native grape culture. Such is not the fact. I have only opposed the exaggerated statements of dealers in grape vines. "My positions have been briefly, I. That there has been no good success in vineyard culture at Philadelphia. 2. That common, ill-ripened native grapes, are very indigestible and dangerous to delicate children and persons of feeble digestive powers. 3. That deaths have been produced at Cincinnati by eating too freely of Catawba grapes. How far I am sustained by facts I leave the reader to judge.

On the other hand, I believe that native grapes, in sheltered situations, and in city yards, furnish a very useful, agreeable, and often profitable product, when grown to such an extent only that the fruit can be consumed by the grower, or sold at retail, in good condition.

I am quite ready to admit that many persons like the flavor of native grapes quite as well, or even better, than that of any hot-house grape; and that much improvement has been made, of late years, in the varieties cultivated. The truth, as to profit, is perhaps quite encouraging in some instances, when a crop is obtained, although the rapid increase of mildew and vine beetles is rather threatening. Still, with the undying hope of an earnest fruit cultivator, I keep on trying. I have upwards of 2,000 native vines in full bearing condition this season, and I hope to get a crop, though with some fears for the result. The Delaware I think the most promising of all the native grapes; but we are charged by leading dealers $3.00 a-piece this spring for Delaware vines fit to plant. The difficulty of propagating the Delaware successfully and speedily, of course renders the vineyard culture of this grape at present out of the question.

I beg all writers for horticultural journals to take notice that I have no desire to prevent the cultivation of native grapes. On the contrary, I am ready and willing to give them all the consideration they deserve, and shall hail with pleasure any improvement that can be made in their quality, or in their cultivation. I trust no one will again feel called upon to abuse me for telling a few wholesome truths about them. Let writers at least not try to make me appear, what I am not, an inveterate opponent of native grapes.

[The doctor, we are glad to perceive, has more clearly defined his position, and leaves us in less doubt as to his real opinions. It is common, ill-ripened grapes that he considers indigestible, such as are usually sent to the Philadelphia market, and, for that matter, to other markets. But the remark should not be confined to native grapes, and doubtless would not be if the Doctor were speaking of fruit generally; it is equally applicable to all fruits. In regard to the deaths at Cincinnati, vouched for by Mr. Reemelin, it seems clear that the persons referred to died, not, in fact, from the simple act of eating grapes, but in consequence of consuming them in an unripe, crude condition, seeds and all, and like gluttons. The best gifts of Providence are daily abused in a similar manner, and often with like consequences. How many are yearly sent to untimely graves from eating unripe fruit. The profits of grape growing will form one of our articles on grape culture, and we leave that part of the subject for the present. Like other kinds of culture, it has its conditions; where these are present, it is decidedly remunerative. The cause of the failure of vineyard culture at Philadelphia we can understand in part, but not fully; we mean, if possible, to get at all the reasons.

That there are native grapes that can be successfully grown at Philadelphia, we have not a doubt; and we expect the Doctor to grow them. The price of Delaware vines this spring is very much less than the sum named, and they will soon be within the reach of all. We record with pleasure the Doctor's declaration, that he is not an opponent of native grape culture. This at once removes him from a false position, while it leaves him fully at liberty to discuss the merits of the subject. The length of the Doctor's article precludes other remarks for the present. - Ed].