AND WINE MAKING. 35 



together with some of the most promising, giving at the 

 end a list of varieties which promise to be generally suc- 

 cessful for the East and North, one for the central sec- 

 tion of our country, and one for the extreme South. 



CHAPTER IX. 



LABKUSCA CLASS, WITH THEIR HYBRIDS. 



CONCORD. This is too well known to need any particu- 

 lar description. It was considered, until lately, one of 

 the most reliable and productive, but for the last few 

 years has rotted so badly, that it is now considered unre- 

 liable by a great many. The fruit is of fair quality, 

 very handsome, too soft to carry well to market, and 

 will not keep. "Will, with skillful handling and a little 

 artificial heat, make a wine of fair quality, of a very en- 

 livening and invigorating character, which is 'emphati- 

 cally the " poor man's " drink, as it can be produced cheap, 

 and is just the beverage he needs, instead of the poison- 

 ous compounds called whiskey and brandy. A rampant 

 and hardy grower, not subject to Phylloxera, and will, 

 perhaps, bear more overcropping and neglect than any 

 other. Has been very valuable, but I think will be 

 superseded by better sorts so soon as they become better 

 known. Specific gravity of must 76. 



CATAWBA. Also too well known to need description. 

 Although very unreliable, it yet holds its place among 

 wine grapes, especially on the Lakes, and although I 

 would not recommend it generally, it does succeed in 

 some sections, and is a good grape where it can be grown, 

 making a high-flavored and sprightly wine. It is very 

 much subject to the attacks of Phylloxera, and this alone 



