258 



NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST. 



sweeter than any of them. If this grape is what T take it 

 to be, a genuine American, it is a hybrid, or variety." 



48. *CATAWBA. 



This superior variety was introduced to notice by Major 

 John Adlum, of Georgetown, D. C., and is esteemed by 

 him the very best native grape for making wine, known ; 

 and the wine made by him at his vineyard, of this grape, is 

 deemed by good judges excellent. The bunches are of 

 very handsome size and form, and shouldered ; the berries 

 are of a deep purple next the sun ; the skin is thin, juicy, 

 sweet, rich, and vinous, with a very Jittle of the native or 

 musky taste. This vine is very vigorous and hardy, re- 

 quiring no protection, and is a great and certain bearer. 

 This and the Isabella are, for the climate of New England, 

 decidedly the very best native grapes hitherto known with 

 us. Mr. Adlum has stated that he has no doubt but by his 

 discovering the Catawba grape to be an excellent wine 

 grape, that it will be worth to the United States one hun- 

 dred millions of dollars before the end of this century. See 

 his Memoir on the Cultivation of the Vine in America. 



49. ELSINBURGH. 



Small, very hardy, and very productive ; of a blue color, 

 very juicy and sweet, free from pulp and musky taste. 



50. "ISABELLA. 



This fine native grape was introduced into New York 

 about the year 1818. by Mrs. Isabella Gibbs, the lady of 

 George Gibbs, Esq., of St. Augustine, then a resident of 

 Brooklyn, L. I. It was received from Dorchester, South 

 Carolina, and was named Isabella, in honor of that lady, 

 by William Prince, Esq., of the Linnajan Botanic Garden. 

 From him I first received this vine, about 1820. The vine 

 is extraordinary for the vigor of its growth, and wonderful 

 productiveness. It has been stated that a single vine iu 

 the garden of General Swift, of New York, produced above 

 eight bushels per annum, during each of the years 1820 

 and 1821 ; and the astonishing produce which we have 

 here witnessed, confirms our belief in all that has been 

 stated. The bunches are of large size; the berries are 

 large, of an oval form ; of a dark purple color, approach- 

 ing to black, and covered with bloom ; the skin is thin, 

 with but very little pulp ; the flesh is juicy, rich, sweet, and 

 vinous. By hanging the bunches in a room, it has been 



