36 AMEBIC AI^ GRAPE GROWING 



is enougli to make any one hesitate to plant it, when 

 varieties so much better can be had. Specific gravity of 

 must 80°. On a recent trip I have seen the Catawba in 

 such perfection on the Lakes in Western New York, that 

 it would seem to me it is still the grape for them. 

 When they can gi'ow from fifteen to twenty pounds to 

 the vine, as I have seen on Crooked Lake, without a 

 rotten berry, or blemish, and the must going up to 96°, 

 they ought to plant Catawba still, although I do not 

 consider it a perfect grape even there. 



Essex. — {Rogers^ Hybrid No. 41). This is a beautiful 

 and good grape, and with me, has generally given satis- 

 faction. Bunch medium, shouldered ; berry very large, 

 double the size of Concord, round, black, with blue 

 bloom' ; skin thin, pulp tender, juicy, sweet, and vinous, 

 with hardly any native aroma. Vine a good grower, 

 abundant bearer, and little subject to disease. Eipens 

 with Concord. 



GcETHE. — {Rogers' Hylrid No. 1). For us in the West 

 this is one of the most reliable and best of all the La- 

 hrusca class, and has no foxiness, but some of the flavor 

 of its vinifera parent. I have seen it succeed equally 

 well near Baltimore and Washington City. Many have 

 failed to succeed with this, and also others of the Eogers' 

 Hybrids, for the simple reason that the vines are 

 luxuriant growers and very abundant bearers, and the 

 vines were taxed beyond their strength when young; did 

 not ripen their fruit or wood well, and were enfeebled for 

 years to come. But with rather short pruning, severe 

 thinning of the fruit when young, and allowing the vine 

 only from 10 to 15 lbs. of fruit per year, good results can 

 be gained nearly every year. This will apply to aU the 

 Rogers' Hybrids. Bunch medium to large, rather loose, 

 shouldered ; berry very large, oblong, very good when yet 

 white, When it resembles the Malaga, pale red when fully 



