CHAPTER X 

 LIST OF VARIETIES. 



To begin to individualize, or render a plain exposition 

 to the uninitiated in grape nomenclature, is a very difficult 

 affair. As it now stands before the public, it is nothing 

 more than a heterogeneous jumble of confusion, and the 

 search after a thoroughly practical understanding of the 

 matter requires more time, patience, and expense, than 

 even the enthusiast would be willing to encounter in the 

 investigation, if he only knew beforehand the maze he 

 had to travel through. To such an extent have the various 

 synonymes become multiplied, that the examination of 

 them shows clearly the ridiculousness of the number, and 

 the only way of extricating the subject from the tiresome 

 burden of incongruity, is by making use only of a few that 

 we know are most familiar in the society in which we live, 

 and only introducing such kinds as are distinct, or worthy 

 of cultivation, headed by the most popular name by Avhich 

 it is known in our midst. It would be no difficilt matter 

 to introduce and describe some hundred so-called varieties, 

 but when they were applied for, and obtained, wl>icli they 

 might be from the various nurseries in our own country 

 and Europe, the half of them would prove to be merely 

 duplicates, — nay, we will go further, and aff.ert that not 

 more than a fourth, from some places, if thus sought after, 

 will be really distinct; besides, were the eipv^cted variety 

 to be forthcoming under such circumstancti a gr^dt por- 

 tion are only novelties and would lead ito chai^riu and 



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