G TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



There can be no question that the Rogers' grapes are true hybrids. In foliage, they 

 may be classed with Catawba and Iona, while the best of them are superior in foliage 

 to the latter grape. 



Near Cleveland, we first met the mottled grape. This belongs to the Catawba 

 family, of which it is probably a seedling. In foliage, we could discover no preference 

 o er that of its probable parent. The fruit is beautiful in appearance, of purplish, red 

 color, mottled with light red. Branch, medium to large ; shouldered berry above 

 medium ; round ; skin thick, very astringent ; pulp juicy, with a large, hard center ; 

 quality only good. 



On the Lake shore the grape crop was free from rot, but on the Islands, which we 

 did not visit, we were informed that the Catawba has rotted badly, some vineyards 

 losing half the crop from this cause. The vineyards on the main shore are generally 

 younger than those on the islands ; but whether the age of vines, excepting when very 

 young, has any connection with the appearance of this formidable disease, is a point 

 on which we do not feel prepared to express an opinion. 



Dr. Kirtland thinks that the main shore will be exempt from rot, by reason of the 

 underlying soapstone, which is found in some localities within two feet of the surface. 

 The Islands are underlaid with limestone. Frost occurred in this vicinity about the 

 22nd of September, and at the time of our visit, the end of the month, its eflects on 

 the foliage were plainly discernible. 



As an item of interest to the producers of grapes for market, we obtained the quota- 

 tions at Cleveland, where entire crops were taken on contract. These prices are for 

 the fruit delivered in the city of Cleveland, in baskets, ready for packing : Concords, 

 seven cts. per pound ; Delaware, twelve and one-half cts.; Catawba, six to eight cts.; 

 Isabella^ four cts. per pound. 



Pursuing our journey homeward, we reached Indianapolis just in time to be present 

 at the Indiana State Fair. Here we found a handsome collection of grapes on exhibi- 

 tion. We enumerate Concord, Ives, Isabella, Israella, Iona, Delaware, Lyman, Blood's 

 Black, Hartford Prolific, Pauline, and Walter. The latter was grown at Poughkeepsie, 

 N. T.; and being a new variety, a description of the fruit is here given: Bunch, 

 medium shouldered, moderately compact ; berry, medium, slightly oval ; color, red 

 tinged with blue ; skin thick ; flesh rather firm, without hard center, juicy, sweet, 

 somewhat aromatic ; and very good. We know nothing of its foliage, exceptiug what 

 may be inferred from its parentage, but shall look with interest to the testing of this 

 variety, in our more southern climates. 



All the others named above appear to be giving satisfactory results in Central 

 Indiana. 



I cannot close this report without calling attention to the importance of foliage in a 

 new varieties, brought before the public. Disseminators of new varieties place too 

 much stress upon the quality of the fruit, and do not sufficiently regard the character 

 of the foliage. 



Our best localities for wine will be found in the more southern portions of the true 

 wine district ; and any grape with a foliage that will not withstand the summer tem- 

 perature of that region, retained till the end of the season, is in my opinion unworthy 

 of general cultivation ; and its introduction should be earnestly discouraged. Until a 

 grape has proved itself capable of ripening five successive crops of fruit under good 

 vineyard treatment, without loss of foliage, or disease of the leaf or berry, it must be 

 regarded as not having established a claim to general introduction. 



