153 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



procure seeds of the new and improved varieties, now 

 becoming plentiful in the hands of good seedsmen. 

 Now is the time to sow the seeds of annuals, 

 and plant out verbenas, phloxes, and other more 

 tender plants from the green-house to the open air. 

 Keep the garden neat and free from weeds, and 

 stir the flower beds frequently with a small hoe or 

 fork. 



THE DELAWARE GEAPE. 

 Many facts and opinions have, from time to time, 

 been laid before our readers in reference to tliis 

 Grape, and almost universally they have been in 

 its favor ; seldom has a new fruit so quickly and so 

 jj;enerally been adopted as a public favorite, and we 

 have much reason to believe that in this case con- 

 fidence is not misplaced. 



The popularity which this fruit has obtained, also 

 indicates the need and wants of the community. 



The Grape is destined to become one of the most 

 important and useful fruits of this country; and 

 something superior in quality and earlier in ripen- 

 ing than the commonly disseminated Isabella and 

 Catawha, has long been demanded — though we do 

 not wish to be understood as in any way disparag- 

 ing the valuable qualities of these 

 old standard sorts; their merits 

 and demerits are well known. " 

 The accompanying engraving is 

 an exact copy taken from a bunch 

 of the Delawarel&at fall, and con- 

 veys a good idea of the size and 

 shape of this fruit. 



The following description we' 

 copy from Downin&'s Fruits and 

 Fruit Trees of America, and is. 

 perhaps as concise and truthful 

 as may be written : 



" Bunches small, compact, and 

 generally shouldered. Berries- 

 smallish; round wh-^n not com- 

 pressed. Skin thin ; of a beauti- 

 ful light red or flesh color ; very 

 translucent, passing to wine color 

 by long keeping. It is without 

 hardness or acidity in its pulp; 

 exceedingly sweet, but sprightly, 

 vinous and aromatic, and is welt 

 characterized by Mr. Pkinoe as 

 our highest flavored and most de- 

 licious hardy grape. 



"It is a vigorous grower, aa 

 early and profuse bearer, and 

 probably more hardy ihiiiilsabella 

 or Catawba. In the garden of Mr. 

 Thomson (Delaware, O.), whero 

 all other kinds were nearly des- 

 troyed by the unprecedented cold 

 of '55 and '56, this alone was un- 

 injured. 



"It ripens nearly or quite three 

 weeks before Isabella, its buuclx- 

 es and berries are very greatly 

 'increased in size by high culture." 

 The coming season will probably atiord much 

 experience with this grape in various parts of the 

 country; and we shall endeavor to place befoz-e- 

 our readers everything of interest that shall be 

 elicited in respect to it, and also the other new 

 and valuable varieties of grapes which are now 

 attracting so much attention in all parts of th© 

 country. 



