414 KEPOET OF THE SECKETA.RT OF THE 



foremeutioaed classes, — of which the Walter is Nature's best 

 assisted effort, a cross of the Delaware with Diana, combining 

 the sweetness of the Delaware with the flesh and aroma of 

 the Diana; excellent for table, wine, or raisins. 



Another new class I will briefly allude to, seedlings of the 



Vitis Vinifera (or European grape), which includes Weehaw- 



ken, a fine early white grape, and the so-called Allen's Hybrid, 



a seedling of the foreign Chasselas, a choice early variety 



which also succeeds here. 



Many, no doubt, will ask, How came this great improvement 

 over the native varieties? One word answers the question, — 

 cultivation. If you plant the seed of the native grapes and 

 leave them with neglected care, natives are produced again; 

 but transplant the native parent from the thicket into your 

 garden and give it all the requirements of growth, and mark 

 the result. You will find stored in the fruit an increase in 

 quantity and quality of plant-food from the seedling. Planfc 

 the seed beside the parent vine, and give it also plenty of plant- 

 food, and watch for the result when it comes to fruitfulness. 

 You will find an improvement over the parent. Now observe 

 every step in advance, for quantity and quality of fruit call 

 upon you for an increase in quantity or quality of plant-food 

 or cultivation; hence the lower grade of these previous classea, 

 Clinton, Norton's Virginia, and Concord, will thrive with 

 comparative neglect, while choice Alveys, Herbemonts, and 

 lonas require the best of care. 



There is still another class of grapes of higher excellence, 

 especially adapted to this climate, because, without advancing 

 step by step in cultivation, — at the risk of losing vitality, — 

 they at once combine the hardihood of our natives with the 

 superior richness of the foreign grape. These include Rogers', 

 Arnolds', and TJnderhill's Hybrids. Prominent among these 

 for this section are Salem of Rogers', Antuchon of Arnold's, 

 and Croton of Underhill's Hybrids. The best of these is the 

 Croton, a cross between the Delaware and Chasselaa de Fon- 



