CHAPTER VIII. 



THE GRAPE. 



THERE is no doubt that by the next twenty years the Grape will 

 stand second only in importance to the apple. This opinion refers 

 to its uses as a fresh fruit only, and not to its manufacture into 

 wine. 



New varieties of American hardy grapes are yearly springing into 

 existence, that possess considerable promise of permanent value and 

 excellence ; and by the lapse of another score of years, we shall, 

 unquestionably, have a series that will give us good fresh fruit from 

 a period soon after midsummer till the succeeding spring. We 

 already obtain in the Northern States, fresh grapes from the end 

 of summer to the latter part of winter, by means of the following 

 varieties : Hartford Prolific, Delaware, Creveling, Concord, Diana, 

 Rebecca, Isabella, and others. The best keepers appear to be the 

 Diana, Rebecca, and Isabella to which may perhaps be added the 

 Clinton, a variety not good enough to eat under ordinary circumstan- 

 ces, but which, if well ripened and kept till after mid-winter, has its 

 sharpness so softened as to become not only pleasant, but sought 

 for its rareness at that season of the year. The Diana is remark- 

 able for its freshness after several months' keeping. 



To the preceding list we shall be able, probably, to add the Adi- 

 rondac for its extreme earliness, preceding the Hartford Prolific, 

 superior to it in quality, although requiring winter covering at the 

 North. The Israella also gives high promise of early value. The 

 Concord, possessing the several characteristics of great hardiness, 

 productiveness, freedom from disease, and showy appearance, yet 

 not of very high quality, may be partly displaced by the lona and 

 some of the black varieties of Rogers' Hybrids, although neither of 

 these new sorts has been sufficiently tried in different localities to 

 insure it a permanent position. 



There are now a large number of new grapes, raised both by 

 cross-fertilization and otherwise, that promise to extend the period 



