)IAN HORTICULTURIST. 



165 



carries the sheet on his left arm, first to 

 one side of the treeand then to the other ; 

 never has to stop, works rapidly and it 

 costs almost nothing to keep the trees 

 clear. — John J. Thomas, in Green's 

 Fruit Grower. 



NEW VARIETIES OF GRAPES. 



Several persons deserve much praise 

 for their success in the production of 

 new varieties of grapes. Years ago I 

 fully published my observations on the 

 thirty-nine varieties produced by Mr. 

 Rogers, of Salem, Mass. And what I 

 said of them has been fully sustained. 

 They are such rampant growers, so 

 hardy, that the continent over they are 

 known and valued. I would as soon 

 part with my fruit-yard as let go 

 Rogers' No. 3, that feasts me every 

 year ; or No. 13, like No. 3, but a little 

 later ; or No. 15, that honored num- 

 ber. Another successful man has come 

 on the field with newer varieties that 

 will satisfy those who dislike the 

 stronger flavors of the Rogers. It is 

 James H. Ricketts, of Newburgh, N. 

 Y., who presents us with Lady Wash- 

 ington, Jefferson, Naomi and Bacchus. 

 These are probably valuable in about 

 the order I have placed them. 



The Lady Washington, when grown 

 for agricultural fairs, is a grape three- 

 quartere of an inch in diameter, white, 

 with a rusty cheek, somewhat trans- 

 parent, with a golden greenish tint ; 

 bunch two-shouldered, six or seven 

 inches long by five inches through the 

 shoulder. As ordinarily grown it 

 should be a third less in size, and 

 yet be one of the most magnificent 

 American varieties, equalling European 

 grapes in size and appearance. So far 

 its flavor is unexceptionable. The 

 Jefferson is a red grape, claimed to be 

 a cross of Concord and lona, having the 

 form of lona, and the hardiness of the 

 Concord. A full-grown typical bunch 



is six inches long by six inches through 

 its two shoulders ; berries about five- 

 eighths of an inch in diameter. As 

 ordinarily gi'own it should be half an 

 inch in diameter, and five inches long 

 and wide in the bunch, or about equal 

 to bunch and berry of the Isabella. In 

 flavor it is much like lona. Those who 

 like the somewhat indefinite sweetness 

 of Delaware and lona, as compared 

 with the higher flavored American 

 grapes, ought to be satisfied with this, 

 for it is the popular taste to eat such 

 grapes. 



Next I name the Naomi, because I 

 believe it is a gi-ape that will fully 

 please me. I do not completely fancy 

 a mere sweet bag of a grape, and as 

 this is a hybrid of the Muscats and 

 Clinton, it has shape and flavor enough. 

 Mr. Vick says : " I have fruited it 

 about ten years, and pronounce it one 

 of the most magnificent grapes for the 

 table that ever grew." It is a white 

 grape, berry medium, oval, greenish 

 yellow, ruby cheek, in a large shouldered 

 bunch. I have not eaten it, and hence 

 can only say that it is much praised by 

 those who have seen and tasted it. 

 The Bacchus is a seedling of the 

 Clinton. The Clinton is not a favorite 

 of mine, though it is of most people, 

 but it is hardy and productive. The 

 Bacchus is a peculiar shaped grape in 

 its bunch, reminding me of an English 

 grape called the Eldred ; that is, the 

 bunch is long, and nearly as large at 

 the bottom as at its slightly shouldered 

 top, measuring, when not overgrown, 

 five or five and a half inches long by 

 two and a half inches at top and two 

 inches at the bottom. This is a small- 

 ish bunch. The Eldred is similar in 

 shape, and nine to eleven inches long. 

 The flavor of the Bacchus is acid and 

 Clinton-like. I am now no believer in 

 the use of wine or other alcoholic 

 liquors, and I repent of all I ever wrote 

 and said or did for wine making. 



