DECEMIJEK MEETING. 5^07 



Its chief rccoinmenclatiou is eavlincss; being in sGvcml respects an improve- 

 ment upon tlie iliirtford Prolific. 



Wordcn's SecdlinG: is doubtless another Concord seedlings jiaving much the 

 same habit of growth and foliage. It is, however, distinct in ilavor, very large 

 in bunch and berry, black in color, ripening fully as early as Hartford, and 

 does not seem disposed to fall from the stem. A promising market grape, val- 

 uable for earliness, healtli, hardiness, fine appearance, and fair quality. 



The Lady Grape is also a new, white Concord seedling, healthy, very hardy, 

 and productive. Also of fair size both in buncli and berry, ripening from the 

 middle to the last of August, and altogether the best of all the Concord 

 seedlings I have ever seen ; and as far as I know, the best very early grape yet 

 introdu'ced. It ripens from two to three weeks earlier tliau the Concord, is 

 hardier in severe winters, purer and more delicate in Jlavor, and it may be 

 classed as a very decided improvement upon its popular parent. After several 

 years' fruiting, and careful observation under the most trying circumstances, I 

 "confidently recommend it as second to no variety I have ever grown for the 

 most general aud extensive cultivation. 



Moore's Early is another Concord seeding, specimens of which I have seen at 

 Boston, and at i3altimore at exhibitions of the American Pomological Society. 

 It appears to be two weeks or so earlier than the Concord, and is a very large 

 and showy grape. I thought it rather better flavored than Concord, but others 

 thought it not as good. The vine seems vigorous and health}-, purely of the 

 Concord type, but has not fruited here. 



The Elvira, a white grape from Missouri, is a seedling from the Taylor, or 

 Bullitt grape, and of wholly different character from any of the before 

 described. It is a vigorous and most rampant grower, exceedingly productive, 

 foliage very little inclined to mildew, and vine very hardy in winter. It has 

 the poculiai- flavor of its parent the Tayloi* in some degree, but is a grape of 

 better character and flavor, as well as larger in size both in bunch and berry. 

 It has been carefully tested in Michigan, and pronounced as a very valuable 

 grape for making a white wine, and will no doubt become quite popular on that 

 account. It ripens about the same time as the Concord. 



The Janesville is another early black grape having the merit of being both very 

 early, very hardy, generally healthy and productive. It is only of medium size, 

 and" not better than Hartford in quality. It is however earlier, and does not 

 fall easily from the buiich. For jiorthern locations it v.'ould have value as a 

 very early ripening, hardy grape, notwithstanding its inferior quality. There 

 are a few other kinds, of more or less merit — but those I have named are in 

 my location most promising, and most worthy of attention. 



I will conclude ])y saying, that as the result of many years' experience and 

 observation, I believe that hybridizing the grape will produce varieties of fine 

 quality, aud of a character nearly if not quite equal to the finer foreign sorts; 

 but this fine quality is to a considerable degree at the expense of that hardiness 

 of constitution necessary to withstand our variable and rigorous climate ; and 

 though these hybrids are exceedingly interesting and valuable for amateur 

 culturists, and specially favorable localities, we must look to native seedlings or 

 use native crosses for popular sorts suited to the wants of the people for 

 universal cultivation. 



Ddaioarc, Ohio, Dec. 1, 1877. 



