SUMMER MEETING. 73 



If we go through the list of grapes and mark each with its proper value on 

 •each of the desirable points I have named, the Niagara will show by far the 

 largest score. While it may not be as rampant a grower as the Champion, or 

 as good in quality as the Duchess or the Delaware, or as hardy as the Clinton, 

 or as good a keeper as the Diana or Catawba, in the general average it far 

 excels any, and in productiveness and handling and shipping qualities, it is the 

 peer of all; and what can be more beautiful than a basket of Niagaras, fully 

 ripe and properly prepared for the market. Surely, its production was a boon 

 •to the fruit-loving public, and the name of its originator should be long remem- 

 bered and honored as one who was a benefactor to his race. 



The next subject was 



VARIETIES THAT ARE FINE BUT HARD TO GROW. 

 BY GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, OF OHIO. 



This question apparently assumes that fine grapes are harder or more diffi- 

 cult to grow, than those which are inferior. All admit that the fine grapes are 

 the most desirable, and the practical inquiry is, why are they more difficult to 

 grow; and how can these difficulties be overcome? The principal reasons 

 why the finer varieties of grapes are harder to grow, are want of hardiness in 

 severe winters; and a disposition to mildew of the foliage in summer. Some 

 of the finer varieties have but one of these difficulties to contend with ; 

 others have both. In localities where mildew does not prevail to an injurious 

 extent, lack of hardiness in winter is so easily guarded against as to be practically 

 of little consequence, in comparison with the advantage of having fine grapes. 



Pruning the vines in autumn, as soon as practicable after the falling of the 

 leaves, and laying the canes upon the ground, affords ample protection to quite 

 tender varieties where theie is regular snow-fall, and the vines are covered with 

 snow during the coldest weather. In localities where cold is extreme, and 

 without snow, it is necessary to cover with a little earth, and this I have found 

 sufficient protection for the finer hybrid and tender varieties. It is generally 

 true that the finest quality in grapes is accompanied with a more delicate con- 

 stitution, and sometimes, but not always, with slender growth. Many of 

 Kogers's hybrid grapes, which are fine in quality, are very strong and vigorous 

 in growth; not specially inclined to mildew, and, though not hardy under extra- 

 ordinary cold, will endure a temperature a little below zero without much 

 injury. I think they will all bear as much cold, unimpaired, as our cultivated 

 peach trees. 



Among the most popular of Rogers's Hybrids, I will name No. 3, or Massa- 

 soit, as the earliest, and one of the best. Wilder, Lindley, Barry, Herbert, 

 Salem, and Agawam, are all, when grown under favorable circumstances, finer 

 in quality than the somewhat hardier sorts, Hartford, Champion, Telegraph, 

 Worden, or Concord. By giving a little winter protection, all the above 

 named hybrid varieties can be grown with nearly as much certainty as the 

 ■Concord, and its numerous family of seedlings. 



The Delaware grape, which is still among the finest, only fails where the 

 foliage is injured by mildew. In favored locations, where the temperature is 

 ■equitable, and the leaves remain healthy, the wood ripens perfectly, and the 

 Delaware endures the severest winters without protection and without injury. 

 It is also singularly exempt from rot, generally escaping from this malady 

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