THE SUMMER MEETING. 27 



at a time when the soil is charged with moisture from previous rains, or during 

 damp, cloudy, or foggy weather, producing the disease commonly known as rot 

 and mildew. 



If any one is skeptically inclined respecting the correctness of this proposi- 

 tion let him try it and become convinced. There is plenty of proof that even 

 the hardy Concord and Delaware have again and again verified their suscepti- 

 bility to this kind of treatment, while those more tender sorts by nature 

 predisposed to these diseases are doubtless from this cause often rendered 

 worthless and are condemned for inherent faults, which were due in fact 

 entirely to the thoughtless mismanagement of tlieir owners. 



It can then scarcely be deemed a legitimate matter of wonder that so few 

 make grape growing a financial success, nor that the many so-called experi- 

 mental tests with new varieties have resulted in bitter disappointment and 

 disgust. And when to this is added the further fact that many vine dressers 

 still permit themselves to be humbugged into the practice of old country 

 methods of pruning and training their vines when the exercise of the com- 

 monest reasoning faculties should demonstrate at once that almost every 

 condition of soil and climate are in each case the exact opposite of the other, 

 and therefore that which is congenial in the one cannot be in the other. 

 Besides this, all vineyardists who have been induced to adopt these methods 

 for any considerable period have pronounced them not only highly injurious 

 but most emphatically exhausting to the productive capacity and vitality of 

 their vines, and have thereupon promptly abandoned them. 



The recent production of numerous new native seedling, together with several 

 very promising hybrids, seems to be awakening a fresh interest in grape cul- 

 ture. But tlie great want of the period in my judgment, is a good white 

 market grape. One which shall have the hardiness, the productiveness, and 

 the freedom from disease of the Concord, and which shall possess the requi- 

 sites of flavor and other points of excellence of a desirable table grape. 

 Among the candidates that are now seeking a recognition at our hands for this 

 place are the Niagara, the Duchess, the Prentiss, the Lady Washington and the 

 Lady. Of these the Niagara is supposed to embody all the qualities necessary 

 to commend it to public favor, but plants cannot be bought, and are 

 obtainable only upon such terms as no sane man can accept. The Duchess 

 is in appearance the equal of the Niagara, but is a hybrid and is suspected of 

 not being strictly hardy. Vines can be purchased at $1.50 each. The Prentiss 

 is a seedling from the Isabella with small, fine flavored berries, compact bunches, 

 and remarbably productive, but in unfavorable situations is said to mildew; 

 vines $1.50 each. The Lady Washington has the Concord and Allen's White 

 for its parents, is said to possess every requisite to its recommendation, and 

 thus far is without a dissenting word of fault. Vines can be had at 13 each. 

 And lastly Campbell's Lady grape claims for itself a place in our good graces 

 with the advantage of being the oldest of the five mentioned and having 

 received the highest testimonials of commendation from almost every State 

 in the Union. It is already on trial in this community but as yet has not 

 been fruited to any extent. Vines of this variety can now be purchased for 

 $20 per hundred. 



To the foregoing list I should also have added the Pocklington, a most 

 promising large white grape originated by John Pocklington, of Washington 

 county, New York State. The owner and orignator claims that this grape 

 withstood a temperature of 32 degrees below zero last winter tied up to a vine 



