114 Pomological Gossip. 



Hartfobd Prolific Grape. — This is the name given to 

 a new native grape, raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, by 

 Mr. Steele. We have not seen this new grape, but we have 

 been favored with the annexed account of it by Mr. G. W. 

 Russell, of Hartford, who has repeatedly tasted the specimens 

 exhibited before the Hartford County Horticultural Society. 



From Mr. Russell's statement it appears to possess the 

 excellent property of ripening in the early part of September, 

 and though not equal to the Isabella, it is so much superior 

 to the common wild grapes, which are everywhere cultivated, 

 owing to the uncertain maturity of the former, that it will be 

 a desirable acquisition, particularly in localities unfavorable to 

 the Isabella. Mr. Russell's communication is as follows : — 



" Dear Sir : — I write to introduce to the notice of your 

 readers a new grape, originated about six years since in the 

 garden of Paphn Steele & Son, of West Hartford. It sprung 

 up accidentally in a cluster with two others, and was allowed 

 to grow. It has fruited for three years past, and has attracted 

 the attention of gentlemen interested in Horticulture. I said 

 it grew in a cluster ; the other two proved to be similar to our 

 common black Fox grape, and were destroyed. This, per- 

 haps, is a crop of the Isabella with the Fox. The bunches 

 are large, rather loose, berries round, skin thin, black, very 

 sweet, rather more pulj^ than the Isabellas, but much less 

 than our common native grapes ; wood moderately stout ; 

 ripens at least tivo weeks earlier than the Isabella. Mr. 

 Steele exhibited well ripened specimens on the sixth of Sep- 

 tember last. The Hartford County Horticultural Society 

 have thoroughly examined it, and have named it the " Hart- 

 ford Prolific.''^ It has been on their tables for three years, 

 and it is believed to be a fruit worthy of attention, more 

 especially when the Isabella does not ripen. 



" Of course it will not take the place of the Isabella, — the , 

 grape is yet to be, that will do that ; but for certain localities 

 it is, in our opinion, just the grape. In the mountain towns, 

 in this state, the Isabella does not ripen one year in four ; in 

 some of them not all. For those places this variety is to be 

 recommended ; being early, and of good flavor, Aviih very 



