The New Grapes. 229 



the quality excellent— to my taste, equal to the lona, which it greatly resem- 

 bles, both in the shape, size, and color of its handsome clusters. The foliage 

 of the vine is heahhy, growth vigorous, compact; wood short-jointed and 

 firm, though not as rampant in growth as the Lady Washington. My expe- 

 rience with the Jefferson has been satisfactory and my impressions of it fa- 

 vorable. It ripens about a week after the Concord. 



The Virgennes has made a good record and promises to be valuable. Tlie 

 vine seems to be purely native and after the Hartford Prolific type, with 

 thick, healthy foliage and strong growth, ripening its wood perfectly. It 

 seems hardy and productive, medium sized clusters with large berries, red 

 in color, pulp tender, skin thin but tenacious; flavor good, somewhat like the 

 Salem and Brighton. But, unlike the Brighton, it is a good long keeper, 

 either upon the vine or after being gathered. It ripens a little earlier than 

 the Concord, is not foxy, and altogether seems one of the most promising and 

 reliable of the new grapes. 



Tlie Early Victor his stood all tests admirably. I have had it in bearing 

 for three years and find it one of the most reliable grapes I have, either new 

 or old. Healthy in fruit, vine and foliage; productive, 'pleasant-flavored, 

 without foxiness and really good. It is black, about the size of the Clinton, 

 and ripens early, just about the same time as Moore's Early or Hartford. 



The Duchess, a handsome white grape, made a strong growth of vine the 

 past season, and although the foliage mildewed slightly, it ripened both its 

 wood and fruit well. Its clusters, in common with many other kinds, were 

 rather small and somewhat imperfect, caused, as I suppose, by much cold and 

 rain about blooming time. It ripened a week or ten days after the Concord. 

 The fruit, when well ripened, is very pleasant and pure flavored, resembling 

 the Croton and some of the foreign Chasselas varieties. It seems to have 

 excellent keeping and shipping qualities. Mr. Caywood, the originator, ex- 

 hibited at the meeting of the American Pomological Society, at Philadelphia, 

 last September, very beautiful clusters of this grape, some of which were said 

 to be over a pound in weight. 



The Highland, although very late in ripening, I think will be found valua- 

 ble where the Catawba can be grown successfully. In growth, healthy and 

 vigorous; fruit very large in bunch and berry; one of the handsomest black 

 grapes I have grown; somewhat acid until quite ripe, when it is rich, pleas- 

 ant flavored and entirely free from foxiness. In size and appearance it re- 

 sembles the Black Hamburg, is a good late keeper, and has shown no tend- 

 ency to rot. 



There are quite a number of new grapes of the Eijjaria type, which have 

 originated in Missouri, mostly seedlings from the Taylor or the Elvira. They 

 are regarded as most promising for wine making, but some of them will pro- 

 bably be found also good enough for table use. I have hardly had .sufficient 

 experience with them as a class to determine their prospective value. The 

 Elvira is being largely planted upon the islands of Lake Erie for wine mak- 

 ing, and some of its seedlings seem more promising and better than the 



