Annual Meeting at St. Josei)li. 215 



through the entire list of grapes would occupy too much of your 

 valuable time and would be tedious and tiresome to you. There- 

 fore, I shall refrain from mentioning such old varieties which have ' 

 either been discarded or possess interest only for the amateur or 

 collector of kinds. As for the numerous new varieties, it would be 

 doing them injustice to judge the failing ones by such a season as 

 the past one has been. I shall therefore mention only such of the 

 newer kinds as appear to me specially worthy and which he 

 passed through the ordeal comparatively unhurt, with us. 



FIKST GROUP. 



Cynthiana. — Gave about a two-third crop, suffered slightly by 

 winter (thermometer thirty degrees below zero). No appreciable 

 damage by rot. None by mildew. 



Norton's Virginia. — Same report as on Cynthiana. Though 

 never very heavy bearers (both varieties considered almost identical 

 by some), are among our surest and most reliable croppers, and are 

 hardly affected and almost uninjured by rot in the most unfavorable 

 seasons. Their standing as wiue grapes, and fair eating grapes too, 

 for that matter, is established, and they should be planted as largely 

 in Missouri, as they are now being planted in Virginia and other 

 states. 



Elvira. — About a three-fourth crop. Slight damage by winter 

 and some by rot, none by mildew. This variety is constantly 

 growing in favor as it becomes better known, and is planted more 

 and moie extensively every year. At the vineyards of the Islands 

 and Lake Shore, of Ohio, it is fast taking the place of the Catawba. 

 A child of Missouri, it should not be neglected here. 



Hartford Prolific. — About a one-half crop. Slight damage by 

 winter ; but did not set fruit well. Only slight damage hj rot, 

 none by mildew. Losing ground fast on account of its inferior 

 quality and for most locations should be placed on the retired list. 



Iver Seedling.— About a one-half crop. Some damage by 

 winter and slight by rot ; but had not set fruit well. 



Perki7is. — About three-fourth crop. Slight injury by winter, 

 very little by rot. A reliable and beautiful grape but lacking in 

 quality. 



Venango. — Same report as on Perkins. 



BlacJc Pearl. — No injury by winter and but little by rot. 

 While this variety generally does not set its fruit well in our vine- 

 yards, strange enough it set better this year than any previous 

 season and brought a fair crop, of value only for wine making. 



