THE DELAWARE GRAPE. 



superiority. To us it is a stranger ; and my object in sending it to you is to get your 

 opinion as to its quality, and ascertain if it is known to horticulturists in your section. 

 You will perceive that it is quite early, being now ripe, while Isabellas^ more favorably 

 situated, are just beginning to turn, and Catawiasare quite green — and that it is remarka- 

 bly free from pulp, thin skinned, and. of sprightly and pleasant flavor — in short, that it 

 possesses all the characteristics of a first rate table grape. It is a prodigious bearer; 

 bunches compact, though rather small ; the berries of uniform size and quality, it being 

 almost impossible to find one that is in any way defective. The vine is a vigorous grower 

 — hardy, free from mildew, and ripens its wood (which is small and short-jointed) better 

 than any with which I am acquainted. I regard it as a great acquisition, and certainly no 

 fruit that has appeared has acquired greater popularity in the same length of time than 

 this iu the region where known. 



" Being oflered for sale in our streets a few years ago by persons from the country, it 

 immediately attracted attention, and investigations instituted by myself and others showed 

 it to be of foreign orign — having been one of a lot of vines sent more than fifty years ago 

 to a gentleman in New Jersey by his brother residing in Italy. It was procured in the 

 garden of the gentleman referred to, and brought to this country some sixteen years ago. 

 Though its origin is clearly traced to a foreign source, I am inclined to think that instead 

 of being taken from the original stock, it is probably a chance seedling from one of the 

 Italian vines, for I have never seen or heard of a foreign vine that would flourish and 

 ripen its fruit in our climate as this does. If it does as well and produces as good fruit in 

 New Jersey as in this State, it is surprising that it has not ere this attracted the attention 

 of eastern horticulturists. 



" Mr. LoxGwoETn regards it as a foreign grape, and in a letter to me says : ' I have 

 upward of one hundred bunches of the Delaicare grape ripening. It compels me to back 

 out and admit there is one foreign grape that suits our climate. I have failed with one 

 hundred varieties. I wish to give it a fair trial for wine. It is a superior table grape.' 

 And in a subsequent letter he says the German vine-dressers in that region who have 

 examined it are divided in opinion — some pronouncing it the Red Resling^ while others 

 think it is the Traminer^ one of the most celebrated of the German wine grapes. The 

 evidence preponderates in favor of its being the latter, and Mr. L., acting upon this evidence, 

 has order a large number of the vines from Germany. He may be correct in supposing its 

 identity clearly established ; but if so, it is somewhat remarkable that in his former large 

 importations (the object being to procure wine grapes) this, the most celebrated of any they 

 cultivate, should not have been included ; and it is no less remarkable that none of the 

 Germans who have brought vines with them from tlie father-land, should have failed to 

 include their favorite Traminer. A. Tuoiisox. — Delaware, Ohio.'''' 



