Numebous are the theories of naturalists as to the origin and creation of the vegetable kingdom, some asserting while others deny the Biblical account as related by Moses; but be this as it may, no one who has observed and studied the method and arrangement of the flora of the world, will hesitate to acknowledge and admit that the distribution of the various plants, trees, shrubs, vines, etc., are not the result of chance; but that a wise and well-directed superintendence is over them all.

Take, for example, the flora of Europe and compare it with that of America, and a marked difference will be at once perceived by the most casual observer, although many plants of the same species are found in both hemispheres.

Thus the vegetable kingdom of North America presents more variety than that of any region of similar correspondence or climate in the Old World, although those found on the northern shores of this continent are somewhat in character and resemblance to that found in Europe within the arctic circle, the change and diversity being chiefly within the temperate zones, where plants that are indigenous to America, and grow wild in her forests or on her prairies, require the aid of cultivation and labor in the other countries.

Again, why is it that certain grains are the productions of the European continent, while Indian corn, tobacco, and other great staples are natives of this, we can not say, although we know that the physical conditions of the vegetable kingdom in their regulation and distribution, although much diversified, are mostly included under the idea of climate, among the agencies of which are understood to stand pre-eminent, heat, light, dryness, humidity, rain, frost, snow, etc.

Now the art and science of the agriculturist enable him to modify all of these causes, and to adapt the soil to the several kinds of plants which he wishes to naturalize into the climate of this country from that of Europe, or from some different locality of his own land.

We do not intend going into a scientific discussion of the numerous causes that compel the distribution of plants over the world, but only to intimate that there are causes geographical as well as creative; and that while the eyes of the horticulturist are roaming over the land to discover the grape for the million, we wish to guard the novice in grape culture, and inform him that some things only can be done, notwithstanding the assertion of some learned Vignerons, who deem themselves the hub of Vineland, if we may coin a word for the occasion.

For ourselves, we do not pretend to decide why the wine grape of Europe will not flourish in similar latitudes in America to what it does in Europe; nor why the mild climate of England refuses to perfect its fruit in the open air, when under almost the same parallel in Germany, on the Rhine, it produces the finest of wines.

Our official duties the past year prevented us from being so constant a contributor to the Horticulturist as we should have wished, but although we did not write much, we read the contributions of others with much care and some profit, and approve of the hints thrown out at random by many of them in classifying those grapevines which appear to suit the various localities from which they write. We can not but admire, too, the warmth and animation with which some of them advocate their favorite variety, especially the friends of the Adirondac, a grape which appears somewhat a myth, for few seem to have seen it in all its glory, away from its native mountains. There was a time, too, when Cincinnati had but one grape of value, the Catawba; now, this old variety has run out, and the Delaware and Ives' seedling are the rage; while under the nursing care of the committee, headed by Dr. Warder, the Concord has obtained the prize as the grape of the present hour.

We do not know what Dr. Grant and others may say to this, but we shall accept the award as the last announcement of vino wisdom from the bench, as orthodox authority, although we prefer a well-ripened Delaware, Catawba, or Diana to a bushel of Concords, without any disparagement to the Iona, Israelis, or Adirondack grapes, which although we have the vines of, have been so unfortunate not to have fruited.

This past season my vineyard has again been a complete failure, although several varieties, which had been covered during the winter, and somewhat protected by walls and fences, ripened a few grapes, among which were the Delaware, Clinton, and Concord, with my own seedling white grape, Anna Harriet, which fruited some dozen of bunches.

Perhaps your readers may remember that we stated having planted side by side our Delaware, our Iona, and our Adirondac, by way of experiment, which should all have fruited the past season. They stood equally exposed, on one line, six feet apart, supported by a wire trellis; the result was, the Delaware bore two bunches and made good wood, while the Iona showed, but did not ripen its fruit, and the Adirondack wholly failed in wood and fruit. This is the record of our experience.

The seedling black grape of which we wrote to you last year did not set but one bunch, and this was picked off before it was ripe by some truant bird or boy; but to all appearance it looks like a grape of some promise, perfectly hardy and of good size. We will report this fall its true merits, should it survive all misfortunes and ripen its fruit.

But let us return to the vine-clad hills of France; let us talk a little of Bingen on the Rhine; let us romance with Don Quixote and Gil Blas on the glorious sherry of Spain; drink of the sweet malaga of Granada, of the fragrant Pedro Ximenes; or enjoy the pure juice of Andalusia, and learn something of that climate which produces these luscious wines, and with what culture the Spanish peasant produces them. Behold that lazy, lounging Spaniard singing under his vine, as if it was too much trouble to rise from the green, pleasant bank on which he is reclining. With the smallest amount of labor he raises the most luscious of fruits - the grape, almond, fig, orange, pomegranate, and others equally delicious are his - with agricultural instruments after the fashion of the Noachian era, and a mode of culture not many removes above the savage of our wilds; the mountain slopes of Spain and her beautiful valleys are laden with the richness of nature. Here, then, it is not to the man who cultivates the soil, nor to the articles of husbandry, nor to the mode of culture, but chiefly to the selection of the grape for the country, and the climate suitable for its production; and so it is in all the countries where the cultivation of the vine has become a success.