142 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[May, 



growth is essential to produce vigorous start of 

 growth the year following. Secondly, after 

 starting, these roots can only be kept vigorous 

 by encouraging an abundance of healthy foliage, 

 to be retained on the vine as long as possible. 

 Thirdly, the leaves of the first growth are at 

 least of double the value to the plant than those 

 from secondary or lateral shoots ; they should 

 therefore, be carefully guarded from injury. 

 Fourthly, checking the strong-growing shoots 

 strengthens the weaker ones, equalizes the flow 

 of sap to every part of the vine, and insures reg- 

 ular and harmonious action between all the 

 parts. Any system that secures this does all that 

 is necessary for the general health and vigor of 

 the vine ; and where some special objects are 

 desirable, such as dwarfing, particularly early 

 bearing, productiveness at the expense of lon- 

 gevity, special means must be employed to bring 

 them about. 



COMMUNICATION. 



PROGRESS IN NEW FRUITS. 



BY CHAS. DOWNING, NEWBURCi, N. Y. 



In the January number of the Gardener's 

 Monthly, you state that Mr. P. Barry referred 

 to the changes which had taken place in the 

 last quarter of a century. An old catalogue re- 

 vealed the fact that nearly all the pears of that 

 date had been superceded, and this was about 

 the way it went through all the old catalogues. 

 I think Mr. Barry is mistaken, or has been in- 

 correctly reported, because, in looking over his 

 present catalogue, and in his select list, he 

 names more than forty varieties which I find in 

 catalogues of over a quarter of a century old, 

 and many of which are equal, if not superior to 

 many of the new varieties which are now being 

 so highly extolled, and which, probably when 

 they have had the trial of a quarter of a cen- 

 tury, will have to be laid aside. I will name 

 some of the old varieties in Mr. Barry's Cata- 

 logue which are more than a quarter of a cen- 

 tury old, viz : Bartlett, Seckel, Belle Lucrative, 

 Beurre Giffard, Beurre Bosc, Beurre d' Anjou. 

 Beurre Superfin, Manning's Elizabeth, Duch- 

 ess d' Angoleme, Urbaniste, Tyson, Howell, 

 Lawrence, Winter Nelis, Josephine de Malines, 

 Brandywine, etc. Surely these are not super- 

 ceded. 



As to grapes, Mr. Barry says, "not a variety 

 with the exception of Norton's Virginia were 

 preserved;" but, are not the Isabella and Ca- 

 tawba, which are half a century old, still largely 



cultivated? And I will venture to say there are 

 more of these two varieties, especially the Ca- 

 tawba for sale in the markets from October to 

 Eebruary, than all other varieties. In fact I do 

 not know of a single variety that has been in- 

 troduced within the past thirty years that can 

 be found in the markets during the months of 

 December and January. The Elsinburgh, al- 

 though not now much cultivated on account of 

 the small size of its berries, is yet one of the 

 best and most delicious of the American grapes, 

 and is worthy of a place in any private garden. 

 The Clinton and Herbemont, or "Warren — old 

 varieties, — are still more or less cultivated, and 

 the latter is a superior grape where it ripens. 

 [We are sorry that this note was crowded out 

 hitherto.— Ed. G. M.] 



THE BRIGHTON GRAPE. 



BY A. L., MADISON, IND. 



In the October or November number of the 

 Gardener's Monthly, is given an opinion as 

 is an opinion, as Mr. Bunsby would say, by the 

 Editor. For every such opinion the amateur 

 cultivator must be thankful. It had reference 

 to the Brighton Grape, and pronounced it, after 

 an extended comparison, one of the very best, 

 if not the best. In less than a week's time 

 after reading this article, I added eight more 

 Brightons to my fifty-five other varieties. I 

 was greatly disappointed in the Elvira, as a 

 table grape. It may be fine for wine, but for 

 the table it is worthless. Nearly every berry 

 cracked open at the time of ripening the first 

 season, and the past season the flavor was 

 horrid. 



[The Elvira was never recommended for any- 

 thing but wine making. — Ed. G. M.] 



THE JEFFERSON GRAPE. 



BY P. A. VAN WYCK, NEW HAMBURGH, N. Y. 



I have a vine in my possession, ^ent me with 

 some other seedling grape vines, on trial by Mr. 

 Ricketts, the celebrated seedling grape grower 

 of Newburgh, N. Y., one of the seedlings being 

 his celebrated white grape Lady Washington, 

 the best white grape grown. The other I think 

 being worthy of very honorable mention. It is 

 called the Jefferson, a red grape of great excel- 

 lence, possessing an exquisite flavor, good size, 

 being a great cropper, hanging on the vine a 

 long time in good condition, and a vigorous, 

 healthy grower. I have fruited this variety for 

 the past ten years, and have not given it particu- 

 lar attention, only giving it good, clean culture, 



