174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



GRAPES AND WINE IN OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA. 



At the Longworth's Wine House, of Cincinnati, through the politeness of the 

 proprietor, Capt. Anderson, we had an opportunity of comparing the relative merits 

 of several of the newer kinds of wines. The record of the House showed the must 

 of Concord and Ives were of equal weight, 80°, and also that the per cent, of alcohol 

 contained in the wine of each of these varieties was almost exactly the same, being 

 respectively 11.4 and 11.5. The wine from the Rentz, which has heretofore taken a 

 low rank as a still wine, has proved valuable for sparkling. Capt. Anderson regards it 

 as superior to all other American wines for the purpose, and perhaps equal to the finer 

 champaigns of Europe. 



At the time of our visit, the Cincinnati Horticultural Society were holding an exhi- 

 bition conjointly with the Grape Growers' Association. At this exhibition — which by 

 the way was a magnificent affair — were shown several new varieties of grapes : among 

 them were two or three hybrids, crosses of foreign varieties on the Delaware, presented 

 by Mr. George Campbell, of Delaware, Ohio. One of these was regarded as promising. 

 Also Eumelan, now being disseminated by Dr. Grant, of New York. This is a small 

 dark grape, bunch small, shouldered, somewhat open, skin thick, pulp soft, melting, 

 without hard center, seeds rather large for the size of the berry, quality good; regarded 

 as promising for wine, but too small in size for a popular market fruit. 



A single bunch of the Salem was also shown, and fully maintained its character as 

 one of the best of the Rogers' hybrids. The grape tables were chiefly adorned with a 

 splendid display of the fruit of the Ives, which is decidedly the most popular wine 

 grape of southern Ohio. It is claimed for this grape that it is the equal of the Con- 

 cord, in both hardiness and productiveness. This is no doubt true, in the valley of the 

 Ohio ; but it yet remains to be proved in the other wine-growing districts of the 

 country. This variety is tardy in coming into bearing, not giving fruit till the fourth 

 season after planting. Established vineyards of this grape near Cincinnati, were visited 

 where the crops were found to be all that could be desired, and the plants healthy. 



Passing on to Pittsburg, we called at the well-known fruit farm of Mr. Knox. Mr. 

 K. has between 30 and 40 acres in vineyard, a large part of which is in bearing. With 

 him, the Ives ripens with Hartford Prolific, and is all marketed before the Concord ; 

 the foliage however, is not quite as good as the latter. Having a thick skin, the fruit 

 will, however, hang upon the vines longer than Concord, and in Ohio is not picked for 

 wine-making till quite late in the season. 



Martha, here as elsewhere, proves to be a hardy, vigorous grower, and Mr. Knox 

 claims that it is as productive as Concord ; judging from the size of both branch and 

 berry, I should doubt if it would yield as many pounds per acre. It is a week or more 

 earlier than the Concord, and markets well, and may be safely set down as the most 

 promising, for both table and wine, of all the white or green grapes that have yet been 

 disseminated. 



Taylor and Cuyahoga, worthless in this locality. Delaware, immense crop, but half 

 the foliage gone; appears to do best when trained very close to the ground — say 

 within ten or twelve inches. 



