MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



pletely to embower the roof of the Httle outly- 

 ing kitchen ; and the fumes and warmth of this 

 latter, from its open skylights, have given to 

 the old vine such a wonderful vigor and pre- 

 cocity, that I have promise of a full burden of 

 well-ripened fruit in advance even of the Isa- 

 bella. Can the reek of a kitchen be put to 

 better service? 



The Isabella escapes ordinary frosts, and is 

 a prodigious bearer; but it has no rare 

 piquancy of flavor; and the same is to be said 

 of its earlier congener, the Hartford-Prolific. 



Of all fruits, the grape is the one which, to 

 insure perfection, will least tolerate neglect. 

 I do not speak of those half-wild and flavorless 

 crops, which hang their clusters up and' down 

 old elms, in neglected farm-yards, — but of 

 that compact, close array of sunny bunches, 

 where every berry is fully rounded, and every 

 cluster symmetrical. It must have care in the 

 planting, that its fibrous roots may take hold 

 readily upon their new quarters; care in posi- 

 tion, which must,— first of all, be sheltered- 

 next, have ample moisture— next, be utterly 

 free from stagnant water, whether above 

 ground or below — and finally, have fair and 

 open exposure to the sun. It must have care 

 in the training, that every spur and cluster may 



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