DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



341 



If, after havinjr fairly examined its merits, you 

 think it worth while to have a drawinf^ of it pre- 

 pared for the Horticulturist, you will please to do 

 so, for the benelit of any gentleman who may choose 

 tc give it a trial. Vours truly, Asahtl Foote. 

 Williamstown, Mass., Oct-, 1847. 



[This appears to be an excellent labor-saving 

 machine for those who wish to perform cleft-graft- 

 ing — the usual mode — cither extensively, or very 



Fig. A^.— Footers Stock Splitter. 



nicely. A groove (sheathed with leather,) a, re- 

 ceives the stock, and a very slight application of 

 force to the handle of the lever, acting upon the 

 small wheel b, brings down the blade c, which 

 performs its work with neatness and celerity. The 

 implement is 18 inches long, including the handles ; 

 the latter being of wood, and may be easily made 

 from the drawing ; Mr. Foote generously placing 

 his invention at the service of the public. Ed.] 



Clinton Grape. — A native grape has been cul- 

 tivated for several years in the western part of 

 New- York, under this name, specimens of which 

 have been sent us lately by J. W. Bissell, Esq., 

 of Rochester, with the following account : 



I send you a few bunches of the " Clinton" grape. 

 This variety is very hardy, ripens before the Isa- 

 bella, is a good bearer, and also keeps better than 

 the variety just named. The vine from which the 

 cuttings were taken, was found by L. B. Lang- 

 worthy, Esq., growing in the garden f>f Mr. Pee- 

 bles, on the Hudson, above Waterford ; and as 

 there were several other varieties in the same gar- 

 den it is probably some old variety, though it has 

 never been recognised here as such. The name it 

 now bears was given b\' Mr. Langworthy. Yours 

 respectfully. J. W. B. Rochester, Nov. 27, 1847. 



This appears to be a wild grape, or the seedling 

 of a wild grape, quite distinct from the Isabella. 

 The bunches sent us are not shouldered, of mode- 

 rate size, and somewhat compact ; (the berries set 

 on shorter footstalks than those of the Isabella.) 

 The berries are nearly round, or much less oval 

 than those of the Isabella, and about two-thirds the 

 size of the latter ; colour black, with a thin blue 

 bloom. Flesh somewhat pulpy, sweet and juicy, 

 but with a somewhat rough and harsh after-flavor. 



The Clinton grape is not equal to the Isabella 

 for the table, thougti better than some other native 

 sorts now in cultivation. In its adaptation to a 

 northern climate, lies, we understand, its principal 

 value; as it will flourish where the Isabella is 

 found quite tender. We should judge it likely to 

 prove a valuable wine grape ; and it may produce 

 a strong, rough wine, hko Port. 



To Prevent Mildew in Grapes and Goose- 

 berries — Dear Sir : In accordance with your re- 

 quest, I now give you the result of my experiment 

 in applying wood ashes to foreign grapes (or pre- 

 vention of mildew. 



My principal vine border is about 300 feet long, 

 15 feet wide, and contains upwards of 300 vines Tn 

 a bearing state, all foreign varieiics. 



I gave about two-thirds of this border a liberal 

 supply of wood ashes late last fall, after the vines 

 were covered for the winter, by spreading it on the 

 surface of the ground; the other third received 

 none. 



The part of the border on which the ashes were 

 applied was almost completely free from mildew, 

 while the other part was very much injured by it ; 

 so much so, that the fruit was nearly destroyed : 

 as, owing to the coldness and wetness of last sea- 

 son here, grapes generally have been more injured 

 by mildew than for some years back. 



My vines have been greatly injured for the last 

 two years by a small saltatory insect, which I be- 

 lieve to be the Thrips ; they a're in immense num- 

 bers, and prey upon the leaves, commencing with 

 those nearest the ground, which turn brown, wither 

 and fall off before the fruit gets ripe. Can you 

 suggest any plan to destroy them ? 



As far as my experience goes, I find the foreign 

 grape succeeds best in an open airy exposure, if on 

 the top of a slight rising ground, so much the bet- 

 ter ; as anything that prevents a free circulation of 

 air, such as board fences or walls, has a tendency 

 to cause mildew. The soil does not require to be 

 deep, but should be thoroughly drained. My soil 

 is a strong clayey loam ; and I find those planted 

 on the thinnest and clayeyest part succeed best. Of 

 course, they will require to be well and regularly 

 manured wherever planted. 



I have found the above mode of planting a com- 

 plete preventive for the mildew on gooseberries, 

 also. For several j^ears, when mine were planted 

 in my garden, which is enclosed with a high board 

 fence, the fruit of all kinds was so badly mildewed 

 that none ripened. As a last resort, I removed 

 them to an open place on a slight rising ground'; 

 and since then, for the last lour years, there has 

 not been a trace of mildew on them. 



I have a number of the best kinds, including 

 Woodward's White Smith, Wellington's Glory, 

 Crown Bob, Lion. Ocean, &,c. &c.; but I find the 

 Warrington Red to be decidedly the best of any for 

 cultivation in this country, as it also was by far the 

 best kind cultivated in England ; it grows with me 

 considerably larger than I ever saw it there. The 

 fruit should be left on the bush till it gets quite red ; 

 this caution is necessary, as it is later of ripening 

 than the generality of kinds, and by many would 

 be considered ripe when only slightly coloured, as 

 it is then very sweet and good. It hangs longer 

 without spoiling, or cracking with wet weather, 

 than any other kind ; and though not one of the 

 largest, it is considerably above medium size. I 

 have raised quite a number of kinds from seeds, 

 several of which have turned out very good; some 

 are larger than any of my named kinds, and are 

 finer flavored than any except the Warrington. 



I have planted some superior wild kinds beside 



