Ai^D Wli^E MAKIKG. 131 



its progressive character, improving in size of bunch and 

 berry every year. The vine is a very strong, hardy, and 

 healthy grower, making heavy, short-jointed canes, and 

 large, thick foliage. In quality and flavor, the best of all 

 the native grapes I have ever grown, Delaware not ex- 

 cepted. It more resembles, in flavor, the foreign grapes 

 of the Frontignac family, than anything I can compare it 

 with, although it is, in every characteristic, a pure na- 

 tive of the hardiest and healthiest type. Its one fault is 

 want of size, in both bunch and berry. Its clusters are 

 beautifully formed, never crowded, and never loose. In 

 size, the berries were the past season perhaps a little 

 larger than Delawares, the bunches averaged less. The 

 parent vine made a remarkably strong growth the past 

 season, and I think may now be considered as fully de- 

 veloped. It has proved abundantly productive, and if 

 my hopes and expectations, as to improvement in size, are 

 realized the coming season, I shall probably introduce 

 and offer it as a new and valuable variety. The Dela- 

 ware is one of its parents. As to the other, I am not cer- 

 tain whether it w^as Catawba or Martha. 



The Delaware is still grown in this neighborhood, 

 and is, perhaps, more planted than any other variety 

 after the Concord. Mildew of the foliage, and its ten- 

 dency to overbear, are the only draw^backs to its successful 

 culture. Its entire exemption from rot, even in the most 

 unfavorable seasons, and under both neglect and ill treat- 

 ment, is something remarkable, and where mildew of the 

 foliage does not prevail, the Delaw^are may be regarded 

 as one of our best, most reliable, and most profitable 

 grapes. And where grape growing is pursued with rea- 

 sonable skill and intelligence, the proper use of Sulphur 

 will control the mildew, and the timely exercise of brains 

 will prevent the evils of overbearing. 



The Elvira has many good qualities, but I think will 

 be of more value as a parent stock, from which new and 



