THE DIANA OEAPJB. 



AVo must now study not only to display in our f^ronnda the pioturosc|uo, hut the 

 !r!ir<l('iH'S(|ue ; nnil, accordingly, there is scarcely a limit to tlie variety thai may 

 1)0 iulroduceil, and that witii a(lmiral)le eflect. One word here rejrardiuf^ this 

 suliject. It is for gentlemen and j;ar(lening ladies to liring about reform ; they 

 have only to insist on ])]ixui\u\>; col/cctioiis, instead of a few kinds forever repeated. 

 This will effect a double gooil ; it will estal)lish arboretums, and add innnensely 

 to their interest; and it will render necessary the ])ro])agation of a great number 

 of species and varieties in nurseries, which will greatly increase the business. 



THE DIANA GRAPE.* 



lo.vA, N. Y., Fehruar;/, Ig.")?. 



^[r. J. J. Smith. — Pk.vr Sir : I send you n painting of the Diana Grape which 

 very truly represents its beauty, and, also, a hasty description of it, believing it 

 will be acceptable to the readers of the Iforticnhunst, and particularly to those 

 who are wishinsf for a grape "earlier than the Isabella, and better than the 

 Catawba." 



Seven years since, the exquisite perception and unerring judgment of A. J. 

 Downing, after two seasons' acquaintance with its fruit, " unhesitatingly pro- 

 nounced it the best of American grapes." Time has not only affirmed the decision, 

 but more fully developed its surpassing excellences and beauty. In habit and 

 n]ipparance, it strongly resembles the Catawba, and is undoubtedly the offspring 

 of that fine grape, but it is a much more vigorous grower, and, in consequence of 

 ripening its wood much earlier, it is more hardy, and its fruit is not, like the 

 Catawba, liable to occasional injury by "rot." 



It grows without difficulty from "single eyes," in the hands of the skilful pro- 

 pagator, but does not take root readily, in the open air, from cuttings. Ijayers 

 furnish the best plants for immediate bearing, and, when well grown, produce fine 

 specimens of fruit the first season after planting. To exhibit its excellence, it 

 requires such treatment as all other grapes 7reed: soil deeply worked, dry, and 

 generously, but not excessively enriched, full exposure to the sun, and breadth 

 of border proportioned to its rampant growth. It is not dainty, but does not 

 tolerate ill usage. 



Its berries are slightly less in size than those of Catawba, of the same globular 

 form — bunches very compact and heavy — conical — not properly shouldered; but 

 the main bunch has generally a small one appended by a long loranch. In color, 

 it resembles its parent, but is subdued by a delicate tinge of lilac, which gives an 

 exceeding loveliness of tone that seems to invite the expectation of its superior 

 flavor. The berries have, generally, upon their exposed surface three or four 

 small white stars whose rays are often obscured by its copious bloom, showing 

 only a milky dot. The berries adhere strongly to the peduncle, which is woody, 

 and consequently fitted for long keeping, which is one of its valuable characteristics. 



Towards the last of August, in this vicinity (fifty miles north of New York), 

 it has made considerable progress in ripening, and has become " good" to eat, 

 being very sweet and juicy, with but little toughness or acidity in its pulp. At 

 this period, it has something of the foxiness that characterizes the Isabella and 

 Catawba. This is fully two weeks before the Isabella arrives at the eatable stage, 

 and before the Catawba has begun to color. 



As the season advances, it parts with all of its foxiness and the acidity in its 

 pulp, but retaining a yestige of its toughness scarcely perceptible, it becomes 



* See Frontispiece. 



