1876.J 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



36T 



ent right as with it ; perhaps more, for with a 

 fruit right he would surely buy law suits. If it 

 be asked why this is not the case with ordinary 

 patents to the extent to be anticipated in this, 

 we answer because the elements of novelty can 

 be more clearly defined in a machine than in a 

 fruit. Suppose W. H. W. tries his hand at it in 

 illustration. Give us, for instance, the points of 

 novelty claimed for the " Secretary " grape in 

 such language that a patent office clerk could 

 tell at once whether any other grapist was in- 

 fringing on the " rights " of the Secretary. Let 

 us see how the thing works and save so much 

 theoretic talk.— Ed. G. M.] 



MRS. PINCE'S MUSCAT GRAPE. 



BY JASPER STANDSTILL, BROOKLINE, MASS. 



By referring to the June number, 1874, page 

 166, you will find notes about "Mrs. Pince's Mus- 

 cat Grape." I now send by express a bunch of the 

 same, an average one of twenty-two. I do this 

 because I then said, " As to its keeping qualities 

 it will fulfil the most extravagant wish ; as to its 

 flavor, it is not that of the Muscat of Alexandra." 

 At that time it was a " cold grapery;" now a part 

 embracing the Mrs. P, is heated, and as a conse- 

 quence its substance and flavor is vastly im- 

 proved. For its unapproachable keeping quali- 

 ties it ought to find a place in every establish- 

 ment where late grapes are desired. 



[1 lb. 4 oz. A beautiful bunch, and of admi- 

 rable flavor.— Ed G. M.] 



THE WINTER PROTECTION OF GRAPE VINES. 



BY J. M. H., DOVER, N. H. 



There seems to be no other way given where- 

 by the fruit culturist of the Northern States can 

 combat the cold and frosty weather of these 

 northern regions successfully, and produce in 

 perfection the choicest varieties of grapes, ex- 

 cept by giving them a good winter protection of 

 some sort. My experience has been that any 

 grape which has any foreign blood in its com- 

 position will almost invariably winter-kill, unless 

 protected in some way. And although so much 

 has been written upon this subject, still a large ma- 

 jority of cultivators in this vicinity still neglect 

 this most essential element in grape culture. A 

 neighbor being unable to cover his vines as 

 usual last autumn, found when spring opened 



that his Zona, Allen and Rogers Hybrids, 

 Delawares and Eumelans were killed to the 

 ground ; while his Concords, Hartfords, and 

 Northern Muscadines lived, but were late in 

 starting. This plainly shows that those vines 

 which are hybrids or contain in some manner 

 foreign blood are more tender than those of na- 

 tive origin. Another neighbor interested enough 

 in grape culture to plant several varieties, but 

 believing that vines are capable of taking care 

 of themselves, declares he will not protect his 

 vines in the winter; result of this resolution — 

 neighbor A. never eats the choicest varieties of 

 grapes unless he purchases them or has them given 

 him by some more careful neighbor. I know that 

 fine grapes can be raised north of the 43d paral- 

 lel of latitude; that you have only to use the 

 materials within the reach of all to make it 

 quite successful. In nxy own grapery I have 

 succeeded by giving my vines an annual prun- 

 ing, not always following the directions of the 

 "books," but sometimes pruning close and at 

 other times on the renewal system, adapting the 

 pruning to the condition of the vine, manuring 

 moderately with wood ashes or well rotted man- 

 ure, and by giving the vines in autumn a cover- 

 ing of leaves, potato tops or what is just as good, 

 the soil around the vines. In this manner 

 grapes can be raised at the North where Indian 

 corn can be ripened. 



THE SICILIAN NUT TREE. 



BY ED. S. MASON, DETROIT, MICHIGAJT. 



Four or five years ago, seeing the Sicilian Nut 

 Tree extensively advertised as a valuable nut- 

 bearing shrub or tree, I ordered two plants from 

 the proprietor, received them by express, and 

 planted them in my garden in Detroit. They 

 grew well and stood two winters without any ap- 

 parent damage. The third winter, one of them 

 was killed by the rigors of the season, the other 

 still survives and puts out a large growth of 

 strong shoots every year, but as yet has not borne 

 fruit. It appears to be identical with the filbert, 

 the improved and cultivated Corylus or Hazel. 

 The seller, who is a nurseryman in Massachu- 

 setts, may not have intended fraud or imposition, 

 as it is probable the nuts from which the trees 

 were raised were imported from Sicily, as filberts 

 are extensively grown in, and largely exported 

 from that Island. 



