DESCRIPTION OF YAEIETIES. 181 



to pick the berries to eat. These faults conced 

 ed, it still remains a delicious grape. It has 

 performed the great and invaluable office of 

 educating the American taste up to the stand 

 ard of European kinds; it has at least done 

 this with a portion of the public, and prepared 

 others for a truer appreciation of real excel 

 lence in the grape. The mass are already begin 

 ning to perceive the difference between a grape 

 that must be shot down with closed eyes and 

 wide open mouth, and one that may be deliber 

 ately eaten as food. 



IONA. 



The lona originated with Dr. C. W. Grant, 

 of lona Island, K Y. The vine is hardy, a 

 vigorous grower, and yields readily to treat 

 ment. The bunch is large, moderately com 

 pact, and distinctly double shouldered or 

 winged. The color is a bright claret. The 

 berry is large, round, with a thin skin. The 

 flesh is meaty, melting, and tender all the way 

 through. The juice is sugary and sweet, spirited 

 and vinous, with a pure but delicate muscat 

 flavor. Just after &quot; stoning,&quot; the berry becomes 

 so transparent that the seed may be distinctly 

 seen. The flesh is sweet enough to be eaten 

 nearly two weeks before it is perfectly ripe. 



