The Vineyards of Vineland. 325 



gallons, also without sugar, which promises to be of good quality. In 

 some cases the Clinton is reported to rot, in others to crack from the 

 exceeding compactness of the clusters ; but. when marketed in good 

 condition, it has sold in Philadelphia at about the same rates as the 

 Concord. Fair specimens of the lona have been shown, but it is en- 

 tirely unreliable — unless we class it as a reliable failure. Mr. Sydney 

 Sweet planted a thousand vines of this variety in 1S66, at a dollar each, 

 and they are all dead. Fortunately he could aflbrd such an experi- 

 ment. I do not know how well they were treated ; I only know the 

 result. Of the Ives I hear a good report ; Mr. J. C. Parsons, one of 

 our best judges of grapes, informs me that he ate them last fall in the 

 vineyard of Captain A. S. Hall, and he thinks both fruit and vine supe- 

 rior to the Concord. So well is he pleased with this variety, that he 

 intends to plant five hundred of them the coming spring. It ripens 

 after the Concord. Some growers are very much pleased with Rogers's 

 Nos. 4 and 15, and it is probable that more of them will be planted 

 next season. The newer varieties are being cautiously tested ; the 

 Eumelan and Salem with good results as to growth. Of the Walter I 

 do not know of any, and probably few will be heard of while the price 

 remains at five dollars. 



The Concord being here, as elsewhere, " the grape for the million," 

 when I speak of grapes I refer to that variety, unless otherwise speci- 

 fied. We do not stop to discuss its merits with those who cavil at its 

 qualit}^ ; for profit, it is, so far, No. i for vineyard culture, and until we 

 can afford to be amateurs, we shall not invest largely in what has not 

 been proved to be profitable. The Concords of Vineland, in sweetness 

 and vinous qualities, have proved superior to the same grape in more 

 northern states. This is very generally conceded, and commission men 

 have not been backward to acknowledge it. The wine from the Con- 

 cord is also very palatable. I should speak more emphatically of its 

 merits did I feel qualified to pronounce an opinion on such a point ; 

 but I feel safe in saying this much of some made by Mr. Parsons last 

 fall, though still wanting in age. 



The following facts I have obtained from the individuals named, all 

 gentlemen of my acquaintance, and whose vineyards I have visited. 



