THE GENESEE FARMER. 



^ 



THE CLINTON GRAPE. 



I HAVE now before me (January 25tli) a bunch of the above desirable, long-keeping 

 Variety, as fresh and perfect as it came from the vine. It has been cultivated in the 



vicinity of Rochester for the last twenty or 

 twenty-five years*; yet it is still but little 

 known, although well worthy of a more gen- 

 eral cultivation on account of its hardiness 

 and productiveness. It is the grape for the 

 North, where no other variety ripens. Even 

 with us, (latitude 42°,) in backward seasons 

 this is the only variety that attains complete 

 maturity. I wouId<»2^^J'ticularly recommend 

 it to wine-makers as worthy of trial. My 

 opinion is, that before many years it will be 

 extensively cultivated as a wine grape. — 

 Judging from the character of its juice, the 

 wine will require a longer time to ripen than 

 that of Isabella and Cdtaivba, and will keep 

 much longer than either. It succeeds well 

 in all dry situations, and is entirely free from 

 rot, to which the Catawba is particularly 

 subject. 



It is a matter of surprise that the wine- 

 makers of the West, some of whom have 

 been making such active search for native 

 grapes, have not turned, their attention to 

 this variety. I have not seen it mentioned 

 in any of their reports. I am informed, how- 

 ever, that it is now in the course of being- 

 tested there, and that a quantity of the 

 grapes have been sent from this place to an 

 eminent wine maker, to be tested as to their 

 Avine-producing qualities. "We may therefore 

 expect a report soon. 



The vine grows rapidly, and is propagated 

 easily, striking more readily from cuttings 

 than any other variety I know in the whole 

 catalogue of popular native and foreign sorts. 

 The shoots are slender and wirey, ripening so 

 well as to acquire great firmness, and hence 

 it is so hardy that the severe cold of a northern winter never aftects even the softest parts 

 of the young shoots. 



Wood — grayish brown, and short-jointed. Leaves — small and thin, sharply serrated, 

 and unlike Isabella and Cataioba, which are usually turned backwards, they have more 

 of a concave form. Bunches — small and compact, resembling much the Black Cluster. 

 Berries — small to medium, black, juicy, with considerable pulp, rather acid when first 

 gathered even though ripe. They improve by keeping, just as winter pears will by 

 house-ripening. It is a prodigious bearer, and ripens in equal situations two or three 

 weeks before the Isabella. — G. E.^ in Horticulturist. 



CLINTON GEAIE. 



g?; 



'^M. 



