200 



The Grape Culturist. 



venerable President of the Associa- 

 tion, lion. Marshall P. Wilder, and 

 call the attention of all our grape 

 growing friends to the importance of 

 the meeting. Let the grape, its friends 

 and its products^ be well represented 

 at this national cono-ress of fruit 



growers. It is a trulj national fruit, 

 and should therefore bo fully repre- 

 sented. And as for our wines — this 

 will be an excellent opportunity to 

 show the world what they are already, 

 and what the}' are 3'et destined to 

 be.] — Ed. 



GRAPES m CONNECTICUT. 



P. M. Augur, of Middlefield, Ct., 

 writes us as to the progress of grape 

 culture in that State : 



'"It does not seem to receive much 

 attention, and the impression is widely 

 spread that it does not pay to at- 

 tempt cultivating a crop so uncertain. 

 Intelligent management and good cul- 

 ture are essential to success, and these 

 are scarce qualities among the growers 

 of this State. Where profit is ex- 

 pected and not qualit}', none but the 

 hard}' grapes should be set. The 

 question of varieties is a puzzling one, 

 for upon a judicious selection depends 

 success or failure. 



" The Concord, thus far in Connec- 

 ticut, is in advance of all other varie- 

 ties. None, I presume, will claim any 

 special merit for quality, but its great 

 hardiness, vigor of growth, and pro- 

 ductiveness of fruit of fair quality, 

 make it a favorite with the masses. 

 In every exhibition that I have at- 

 tended, its popularity is largely in 

 excess of any other variety. 



"A Aincyard in Now Haven county, 

 where Concords wore planted, made a 

 very heavy yield last year ; whereas 

 the Delaware, the lona, the Creveling, 



and some other varieties were almost a 

 failure. 



" For an early grape the Hartford 

 Prolific is the most productive. The 

 fruit is of fair quality, and when the 

 vines are well pruned and cared for, 

 the bunches are tolerably perfect, and 

 bring a good price in the market. 



" I have seen a vine of this variety, 

 covering the north side of a building, 

 loaded with fruit, well ripened by 

 the 10th of September ; it is to be 

 admitted, liovvever, that the fruit drops 

 rather easily from the chisters. 



" The Diana is a good grape here 

 when well ripened, and keeps remarka- 

 bly well, but is too late to ripen every 

 year. 



"The Rogers Hybrids are hardy and 

 promise well, particularly Nos. 1, 4, 

 15 and 19. 



" Wo still want a grape equal to the 

 Catawba in size and quality, as hardy 

 and prcKluctive as the Concord, and as 

 early as the Hartford Prolific. A new 

 variety with these requisites will be a 

 groat achievement. 



"■ In the meantime, let us prove all 

 things and hold fast to that which is 

 ^ good." — Horticulturist. 



