PBEFACE. 11 



previously asserted in this treatise, viz.: "ultimately attain- 

 ing to the same perfection which the exotics possess, with the 

 additional property of a hardy constitution that will prosper 

 in the open air." When this assertion was made we had 

 already approximated the fulfillment, although unknown to 

 the public. The Rebecca and Delaware, both of which are 

 equal to a Frontignan in flavor, and are perfectly hardy, 

 were then discovered though as yet unpublished. It is not 

 known how the^ Delaware originated, and as it bears some 

 resemblance, in the leaf, to an exotic, some persons think it 

 a European variety. I do not see any thing in it to justify 

 such a conclusion. Others again, at the present time, con- 

 sider the Rebecca as somewhat tender, but if the statements 

 of the originator, Mr. Peat, of Hudson county, be true, such 

 is not the ease; and I certainly can vouch for his veracity 

 in my own practice, for young plants stood, with me, en- 

 tirely unprotected last winter, (which, though mild, was a 

 trying one for plants,) and uninjured, even to a bud, with 

 the thermometer down two nights, respectively, to fifteen 

 and ten degrees below zero. Delaware proved equally 

 hardy with the same exposure, and I am told by a friend 

 who has known this variety many years, that it has been un- 

 injured when Isabella upon the same trellis was killed to the 

 ground. 



There is a great difference naturally in the geographical 

 range of plants throughout the world, some being confined 

 within very small limits, while others are found widely and 

 profusely disseminated in the form of one or perhaps more 

 species in different hemispheres. Now, the grape-vine is of 

 this latter capacity, though possessing different constitutional 

 requirements collectively. Hence arises In part the cause 

 of failure sometimes complained of. And while we admit 

 that a more southern latitude has the general advantage, it 

 by no means follows that we need despair of the North, up 

 to certain limits, being suitable for the ripening of this fruit. 

 It may be necessary, however, for the time being, to submit 

 to some inferiority, but even in this case there is opportunity 

 for improvement, and we may accept the Qoncord and Hart-' 

 ford Prolific as two great acquisitions on account of their 

 extreme hardiness, and early maturity of fruit. It is proba- 



