Garden 2'op/cs, g7 



In(]eed, wc rather believe the hitter has the most pleasure — certainly less disappoint- 

 ment. When we get this word profit expunged from the horticultural vocabulary, 

 and growers learn to value plants for the pleasure they can give, and appreciate their 

 peculiarities and beautiful characteristics of growth, we can hope for a wider spread 

 of horticultural taste. » 



We are asked the question : Which are the best grapes for the Family Garden ? 

 We answer briefly as follows : 



Do you want quantity or quality ? Do you want growth — something sure and relia- 

 ble — or are you willing to do a little nursing? All these points need considering. 



The Concord is our old stand-by — sure, safe, reliable, good enough for ordinary 

 eaters. But the amateur naturally asks for something better. Then take the Eume- 

 Ia?i, earlier still ; a fine healthy vine, not as rampant as the Concord, but fully as 

 healthy. Berries are of moderate size, black, shiny, well filled with the most deli- 

 cious of winy juice ; has little or no pulp or seeds, and sweet enough for the birds. 

 The best of early grapes, in our opinion. 



The Israella, in warm latitudes, is a marked success, and bears the handsomest 

 clusters that ever graced a vine ; is fully as healthy and rampant a grower as the 

 Concord, but no better in quality ; valuable for its earliness, which is two weeks 

 before the Concord; a few days later than the Eumelan — which latter grape is the 

 best and earliest grape of its season that we have. 



The Ives is gaining friends daily. This, too, is black, and is adapted mainly to 

 latitudes where the winter climate is moderate. 



Among the later grapes, nothing is so luscious and fruity as the Scnasqua ; ripen- 

 ing after all the other black grapes are gone. It hangs tenaciously to the vine, and 

 bears its large round berries soundly to the very verge of winter. It is the perfec- 

 tion of a black grape ; seeds trifling and not troublesome ; melts in the mouth like 

 globules of nectar, and seems almost to have elements of perfection of flavor. 



Next, among the white grapes, who would miss that gentle, sweet and modest 

 Rebecca, who bears the neatest of bunches, with berries of clearest white, and flavor 

 so refined ?^ Make a place for that. And who would leave out the Croton, that 

 paragon of wonderful hybrids ? American vigor, with foreign characteristics ; large 

 bunch, somewhat loose ; berries medium, white, fine, sweet delicate flavor. 



We might prolong this list. Even the Walter, and some of those famous hybrids 

 of David Thompson (the Carpenter) might deserve special mention. To any one 

 wishing for agreeable variety, and disposed to consult quality as well as quantity, 

 the above named sorts will not be forgotten. Our summary, then, may be scheduled 

 as follows : 



1st best early black grape for the family, Eumelan. 

 2d " " " Israella. 



3d " " " Ives. 



Best medium " " Concord. 



Best late " " Senasqua. 



Best white grape, Rebecca. 



2d best " Croton. 



od best " Martha. 



Best new amber grape, Walter. 



