2IO TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



comparative immunity from insect attack, its hardiness, productiveness, 

 etc., should place it as the standard iox comparison. Yet there are many 

 who do not cultivate altogether for money, therefore other varieties may 

 be selected, either for better quality or to lengthen the season. 



Among the earlier class is the Perkins, which with me, next to the 

 Concord, is the most profitable grape I can grow, and I think that with 

 many others it could be made a source of profit where grown in limited 

 quantities. I say limited, as its season must not conflict with the 

 Concord, therefore only such an amount should be grown as will find 

 sale before the Concord is ready. It is as hardy as the hardiest, very 

 productive, and about as early or perhaps a little earlier than Hartford. 

 The fruit should be gathered before overripe, as it gets foxy and is 

 inclined to drop when left on too long. 



Of Rogers' Numbers, the 4, or Wilder, in my opinion is by far the 

 best, considering healthiness, hardiness, productiveness and quality. This 

 variety, as well as most of his others, seems to do best when pruned to 

 single or two-eyed spurs on old canes. I would suggest that this plan be 

 also tried on Isabella where this variety has proved refractory or unpro- 

 ductive. 



I have observed the Delaware carefully the past season on different 

 soils ; on clay it retains its leaves and perfects its fruit, but on light or 

 sandy soils it drops its leaves in August, for which reason I have discarded 

 it, and have dug up the vines; and where the leaves had fallen before the 

 fruit matured I found the roots covered with a mass of excrescences, 

 showing plainly the work of Phylloxera. 



Lady has never perfected its fruit with me; the vine makes good 

 growth early in the season, blooms and the fruit sets well, but during the 

 hot weather of July it sheds its leaves and the fruit withers; it again puts 

 forth leaves and makes a considerable growth before cold weather, and 

 seems to ripen up this secondary growth, and to all appearances has 

 recovered from its trouble during the summer. It has now conducted 

 itself in this manner for two years. I have closely examined both roots 

 and stalk, but fail to find any insect affecting it. 



A few miles from my place, however, on prairie soil and clay, it has 

 been quite a success, giving good satisfaction. 



Hartford does well generally in our locality and is a desirable variety 

 to come in before Concord ; on my soil it does not drop its fruit. 



Martha does not give good satisfaction, lacks character, is too foxy 

 and very capricious. 



Catawba was better this year than for a long time before ; it seems to 

 recover from the attack of Phylloxera at stated intervals, say about every 

 third or fourth year, according to my observation, when it will give a good 

 crop and then again fall into a relapse. 



Ives is a poor bearer on a light soil in our locality, but on heavy 

 soils does better. 



I might thus continue to remark upon different varieties; but what 

 will it avail? As I started out with the remark of '■' Concord ^x%\., last and 

 all the time," so will I continue to exclaim that for money — and it is the 



