VARIOUS SPECIES OF FRUITS 149 



In no family plantation have I known this defect to manifest itself, 

 the fruit being eaten up too promptly. 



CACO. A rather new variety which ripens earlier than its parent Concord, 

 but resembles its other parent Catawba in being red. The vigorous, 

 hardy, healthy, prolific vines bear medium-sized clusters of large, rich, 

 sugary berries. 



CANANDAIGUA. A comparatively new black variety, which though very 

 good when mature seems to improve, or at least not to deteriorate, under 

 storage. In tests at the New York Experiment Station it has been kept 

 in ordinary storage until mid-April ! Its high quality and beauty also 

 recommend it. 



CATAWBA. Wide adaptability, high quality, beauty, lateness, long keeping 

 (March), vigor, hardiness, prolificacy, recommend this famous old red 

 variety, which should be among the first to be chosen. 



CLOETA. According to its originator, T. V. Munson, is "probably the 

 best of all American black Grapes." But since it "requires hot, dry 

 weather to acquire high quality" it is not a variety for Northern planting. 

 The very vigorous, hardy vines bear small to medium irregular clusters 

 of small to medium black berries. 



CONCORD. The most extensively grown American Grape. Popular 

 because of its adaptability to diverse soils, annual prolificacy even under 

 neglect, hardiness, comparative earliness, hence fair certainty of ripening, 

 large size and beauty of cluster and fruit. It is however of only 

 moderate quality since it lacks richness, delicacy and aroma and is 

 strongly "foxy." Moreover, it is a poor keeper, losing flavor soon after 

 gathering. There are so many better varieties that this one should not 

 be added to the home vineyard until at least twenty other varieties had 

 been given preference. In my own home garden I have not planted it, 

 though I planted twenty-three other varieties ! 



CROTON. A Delaware descendant, though finicky as to soil, of poor growth 

 and tender to frost, is excelled by few if any "white" Grapes. Its late, 

 sweet berries hang until frost and keep till Midwinter. 



DELAWARE. The ne plus ultra of American varieties, the first to reach the 

 high standard of Europe. Strong constitution, adaptability to varying 

 climates and most soils, prolificacy coupled with beauty and flavor 

 have made it also a leader in popular favor. It is also early enough to 

 ripen with certainty where almost all other varieties mature. Objec- 

 tions to it are small size of vine, cluster and berry, and slowness to 

 reach bearing age, but no family plantation would be complete without it. 



DIAMOND. Earliness, hardiness, vigor, prolificacy, high quality and beauty 

 make Diamond one of the best of Grapes. It ripens a little earlier 

 than Niagara, to which it is superior, but which it somewhat resembles 

 in color of fruit green. 



DOWNING is noted for high quality, beauty, long keeping, but its vines 

 are tender to cold. Its large, purplish-black berries borne in medium 

 to large clusters ripen somewhat later than Concord but may be kept 

 till Spring. They are of excellent quality. 



DUCHESS is notable for its beauty, delicious flavor and long keeping. The 

 vine, however, is tender to cold and particular as to soil. Its "white" 

 berries borne in large, compact clusters ripen in mid-season and keep 

 well. The vines resent rich soil. 



