294 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



" They have," says he, "made a uniform growth, better than Ca- 

 tawbas of two years ; and I now want to engage 1,200 more, and 

 will say to you that, for general vineyard, I have determined to 

 plant nothing but Delawares hereafter. I only regret that want 

 of knowledge or misinformation kept me out of this variety so 

 long. It cannot be overpraised." From Mr. Mottier's experi- 

 mental vines he has made wine which, without age or name or 

 anything to distinguish or recommend it, but placed among a 

 large number of bottles of wine from Catawba and other'grapes, 

 was unanimously pronounced far superior. 



Frederick Schnicke, of Cincinnati, is another old Swiss vine- 

 dresser. He says : " I can give you my opinion of the Delaware 

 grape in one word. It is the best kind, not of American only, 

 but of the world. Next to Delaware I place Lincoln, then Lenoir, 

 next Herbemont, and then perhaps, Catawba. But I think Diana, 

 when it becomes more plenty, may stand by Delaware." 



"With Mr. Schnicke, the Catawba ranks last, notwithstanding 

 he had been using it many years for wine, and all his interest at 

 that time was invested in a vineyard of Catawba grapes. 



Isabella always ranks below Catawba, both for the table and 

 wine. Then " what shall we plant ?" may be considered answered 

 as relates to those two sorts. 



The Concord grape was recommended some years ago by 

 Charles Downing as "a good market .grape." This was on 

 account of its size and general attractive appearance being in 

 its favor with those who only judge by outside appearances. 

 Mr. Downing now sorely regrets having made this qualified 

 recommendation, because it has caused some persons to plant of 

 it extensively, and now that they find that they can get better 

 sorts, they regret that they did not do so at first. 



As the Concord, as well as Hartford Prolific, both of which 

 are of the New England wild variety of fox grapes, grow very 

 strong where some other sorts would die, we may recommend 

 every family that desires an assortment to plant one vine of 

 each; and so would we of Isabella and Catawba. Indeed it has 

 been through these coarser sorts of grapes that an appetite has 

 been created for the best sorts already known, and the constant 

 effort to develop new sorts from seedlings. We know one man 

 who has within the last seven years grown some three tliousand 

 seedlings and brought them to bearing, and rejected all but 

 seven, and of those only, considers one super-excellent. 



