136 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Isabella, and many of tliem earlier, larger, and much superior 

 to the Concord in quality. An intelligent Scotch gardener, 

 who has had much experience in the culture of the grape, con- 

 siders these hybrids to be the most promising grapes for out- 

 door culture we possess. This is also the opinion of one of the 

 best judges and most scientific amateurs in the cultivation of 

 the grape in New York State ; he says " that No. 15, as ripened 

 here at Ithaca, has to my taste a resemblance to the Catawba ; 

 it is decidedly of that flavor, but milder as a table grape, and 

 about tioice as large in size of berry as that variety. No. 4, as 

 ripened here this year, is a fine large black grape of sweet and 

 mild flavor, better than the best Isabella — this number reminds 

 me of the Black Hamburg. As the New England varieties 

 improve as to sweetness for two or three years after their 

 removal here, I shall expect very much from these hybrids." 



The same testimony has been given from Virginia, Ohio, 

 Illinois and Canada. From this last place I received a paper con- 

 taining an account of the recent " Fruit Growers' Convention," 

 in Canada West. In their report on grapes exhibited, they say 

 of Rogers' No. 15, " Not pulpy, best of the new grapes ; berry 

 and bunch large." Another cultivator in the same locality, 

 says, " Rogers' No. 15 very hardy, early, fine flavor, large berry 

 and fine bunch, well shouldered." J. B. Garber, of Pennsyl- 

 vania, (who is said, in the " Germantown Telegraph," to have 

 had more experience in fruiting these hybrids than any other 

 person in the State,) says, " That he has fruited thirteen varie- 

 ties of these new grapes this season, and that they are one and 

 all superior to nine-tenths of the kinds in common cultivation, 

 vigorous and fine growers, the wood ripening perfectly, and thus 

 far with him, no mildew, rot, or any defect whatever ; some 

 were ripe the first week in September, and none ripened later 

 than the Concord, and all were fully ripe before either the 

 Isabella or Catawba." 



The American grape is now receiving great attention in the 

 vine-growing regions of Europe, especially France, where it is 

 being introduced, ivith the hope that it ivill be free from the 

 disease which attacks and sometimes destroys the European 

 vine. The cultivation of the grape, particularly in Western 

 New York, is considered a profitable crop. Mr. McKay has 

 realized, during many successive years, from one thousand to 



