44 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



weather. It is the very best grape we have for a medicinal wine, and 

 for my taste, when properly diluted, the best and most refreshing wine 

 for the table. The vine requires a thin, dry, porouSj warm soil to give 

 its best results, and needs plenty of room, long pruning, and little of it. 



I have now named the four great grapes of our State that are to be 

 relied on everywhere, or, at least, where it is possible to grow grapes at 

 all. The following succeed admirably in special localities, and some of 

 thein in such places should supersede the above-named soi'ts. 



Catazvba. — Everywhere in the so-called " River District" of our 

 State, on our drift sands, and light, silicious clays, where properly man- 

 aged, the old Catawba is still the best and most profitable grape to grow, 

 both for the wine-grower and market-gardener. I wish to be distinctly 

 understood as saying and meaning the above, only where the soil is rights 

 and its requirements are complied with. Perhaps ninety-nine men out 

 of a hundred would fail with it on the best soil, but I do know, of my 

 own personal knowledge, of men who have cultivated it for twent^' 

 years with perfect success, and who would not give it for all other varieties 

 in existence. You can not learn to grow the Catawba from the books. 

 I might be able to give you the proper outlines for success, but you would 

 better take good advice, and not attempt to grow it. 



Isabella. — The best market grape we have as yet, all things con- 

 sidered, where it can be grown successfully. These places are unfor- 

 tunately few. It requires the same kind of soil, though a little richer, as 

 die Catawba, plenty of room, and peculiar treatment. 



Delaware. — We found no fruit to speak of on this variety, on high 

 prairie soil, this season, but at some points it was very fine. A most 

 delicious and beautiful little grape when in perfection, but very capricious. 

 Those few among us who have planted it, and with whom it has done 

 well, will stick to it and plant more of it; but those who have failed, 

 would best let it alone, for I do not believe it is within the art and power 

 of man to make a Delaware vine grow where it don't want to. 



Norton! s Virginia — Still holds its place as the best grape for red 

 wine in the middle and southern poxtions of the State. We of the 

 north have no use for it. 



Rodger^ Hybrids. — These grapes appear to be much better in point 

 of quality west than east. Some few of them would prove of great 

 value in certain hands and in proper soils. Mildew is their great bane. 



Telegraph. — This, with the Ives and Hartford, ought to be melted 

 up and cast into one good variety. There are enough good qualities in 

 the three, if combined, to make one variety of surpassing excellence. 

 They are nearly alike, and they are just good enough to keep, and too 

 good to throw away. They are tolerated only for special reasons, earli- 

 ness, etc. 



Martha. — This might be melted in the same pot with the above, 

 without hurting or benefiting the mixture. Wherever seen, and in my 

 own grounds, the fruit was poor and foxy, and the vine neither healthy, 

 vigorous, nor productive. 



Aletha. — A supposed new grape found at Ottawa. After the most 



