NOTES ON THE GRAPE. 



NOTES ON THE GRAPE. 



BY \VM. W. VALK, M. D., FLUSHING, LONG ISLAND. 



Dear Sir — In your Horticulturist for September, page 410, I notice an article headed 

 " The Isabella Grape — Its History, &c." You have some remarks appended thereto, a 

 portion of which I quote, viz: " There is, unfortunately, no "well authenticated proof that 

 our native grape has ever been hybridised with the grapes of Europe. All our seedlings, 

 so far proved, are chance seedlings — but we believe some of our pomologists are now busy 

 with the experiment of crossing the species if possible — to effect a more speedy ameliora- 

 tion of the hardy native varieties. A cross between Black Hambugh and Isabella, giving 

 us the size and luscious flavor of the former, and the hardiness of the latter, would be 

 worth untold thousands." 



I beg leave to refer you to Hovey 's Magazine, Vov . IX, page 134. You will there find an 

 article " On the Production of hardy Seedling Grapes, by hybridizating the Native with 

 the Foreign Grape." I communicated the same to that periodical, and should like to 

 have you read it. You will perceive, that as far as human accuracy can be depended upon, 

 I succeeded in fertilizing the Hamburgh with the pollen of the Isabella. In that year, 

 (1845,) I raised fourteen seedlings from the fertilized seed. Absence, and other causes 

 combined, compelled me to neglect them for more than two years, at the end of which 

 time but two of them were living, and these not in very good order. All had been care- 

 fally labelled, and kept in pots. In the spring of 1847, I planted both these seedlings in 

 the open soil, at the head of my garden, tacked them to the fence as they grew, and have 

 rather neglected them than otherwise. I did not prepare the earth in any way for their 

 support, nor have I given them the slightest protection daring the last four ivinters. Last 

 year they fruited for the first time — one vine having on it eleven bunches, the other thir- 

 teen. The fruit was of good size, and very handsome looking, but before it was ripe, the 

 poultry fancied it, and soon destroyed the whole of it, much to my regret and annoy- 

 ance, for I now began to watch my vines with more than ordinary interest. This season 

 they have borne a little more, and on one vine the fruit was beautiful, on the other, (with 

 a western exposure,) the mildew rather injured its appearance. During my absence for 

 four days in Connecticut, some miserable thief got over my fence, and helped himself to 

 all but one bunch of my finest grapes, leaving the mildewed one's scarcely touched. Had 

 I caught him in the act, I think I should have been disposed to pepper his footsteps with 

 small shot; as it is, my best grapes are gone, and they were not ripe by at least a month, 

 though deeply colored. 



The concluding paragraph of my article in Hovey, reads thus: " "We shall take care to 

 ascertain all particulars as soon as practicable, and make them known when we are satisfied 

 fully of their perfect correctness, not speculating carelessly with the credulity of our co-la- 

 borers or the public, but giving them the true result, whatever that may be." What is this 

 result? It is, as far I know and believe, a very important one to pomologists generally. 

 My two seedlings, from the Hamburgh fertilized by the Isabella, have lived through much 

 neglect, and boms triumphantly the frosts of four winters. They are at this moment in 

 as good health as can be under the circumstances, and fully deserving of the utmost care. 

 The fruit so far has not been as large as the Hamburgh, but it is thin skinned, and has a 

 soft and pleasant pulp, wholly unlike the Isabella. Is it hardy.? I have told you what I 

 certainly know and believe, that my seedlings are as hardy as the Isabella, and bear 

 equal to the Hamburgh in everything but size ; better cultivation may give them that 



