•54 State Horticultwal Society. 



of the land the demand for them stands as ten to one (at least five to one) 

 in preference to red or white varieties. 



Last year I had the pleasure of visiting the experimental vineyard 

 of my friend Sylvester Johnson near Indianapolis, Indiana, veteran hor- 

 ticulturist and an authority on grapes, where I saw fruiting (and sampled 

 most of them) some 120 varieties of the choicest grapes, including many 

 of Prof. Munson's new creations, but I would hardly plant ten of them 

 extensively, while I will try soon at least fifty of them on my experi- 

 mental grounds. 



The best grape of the land to-day, not having its superior, is the 

 grand Hicks — the Queen of Grapes and the new Concord of the 20th 

 century. It is destined to take the rank and position throughout the 

 land which the old Concord held for the last half century. My friends, 

 allow me to say that I do not make this statement as the originator and 

 introducer of it having an axe to grind, but simply speak as a practical 

 vineyardist who has tested it most severely for ten years before offering 

 and recommending it to the public, for the last five years searching in 

 vain for a better grape. It has all good qualities combined and no faults 

 either as a table, market or wine grape, the grape conquering the land 

 on its real merits alone, being the grape for the millions for the next fifty 

 years to come, as the old Concord was for the time past. All doubting 

 Thomases are kindly invited, for their own profit and benefit, to plant the 

 Hicks and very soon they will be convinced that I have spoken only the 

 truth. 



Worden, Brighton and Moore's Early belong to the class of best 

 grapes for many years to come, but the Concord must take a back seat. 

 According to my judgment it is to-day only a second class grape, no 

 matter who thinks contrary. N^orton's Virginia is an excellent wine 

 grape, but was not hardy enough this year. Others of that class I have 

 not tested enough to judge on. St. Loriis, a new seedling of the Con- 

 cord, tried near St. Louis for twenty years, is superior to the parent in 

 vigor, health, productiveness and quality. Campbell's Early, if not 

 classed among the short list of best grapes, will at least hold its foremost 

 position among our good grapes, even if the last severe winter proved 

 that it is not of ironclad hardiness, perhaps on account of having foreign 

 blood (Black Hamburg) in its veins. The noble, large McPike suffered 



