THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 131 



nisli the pollen may be cut from the vine, and gently rubbed 

 or applied to the bunch, by frequently striking them together 

 on every side. This should be repeated several days, until it 

 is evident the fruit is all impregnated ; a fresh bunch, with 

 the pollen in a suitable condition, must be had at each opera- 

 tion. The pollen must be dry, and in a falling condition, to 

 be fit for the purpose. If your vines are so situated that a 

 branch to be acted upon can be brought into contact with the 

 branch of another kind, and the bunches interlaced, this will 

 be a good method of proceeding, — cutting away the male 

 part of the blossom from the kind that is to ripen the seed for 

 the new kinds. 



To obtain hardy grapes, in new varieties, I should recom- 

 mend the Catawba, or the Isabella, to be impregnated with 

 the Frontignan, the Black July, the Golden Chasselas, the 

 Pitmaston Wliite Cluster, the Black Hamburgh, and Esperi- 

 one ; a hybrid from any of these would probably be a grape 

 ripening in less time than the first two. 



To obtain varieties for the glass-house : the Muscat of Al- 

 exandria to be impregnated with any of the kinds that ripen 

 their fruit in a shorter time. A hybrid from any of these 

 would probably have the musk flavor, in some degree ; if the 

 object be to avoid this, some two of the kinds free from this 

 flavor must be selected. The Esperione and Black Ham- 

 burghs, being always good setters, are the best for the male 

 plants. The Golden Chasselas, a very beautiful fruit, but 

 often setting poorly, would make a suitable kind to be acted 

 upon. The August Muscat, being very early, could be used 

 as the female also. This variety might be used with the 

 American sorts, with a prospect of producing a plant that 

 would be both hardy and speedy in ripening the fruit. The 

 Scuppernong, bearing fruit only a few berries in a bunch, is 

 objected to as a parent for a new sort for the greenhouse on 

 that account. 



If Mr. Van Mons's system of producing new kinds by seeds 

 from wildings be attempted, it would be best to try seed from 

 all kinds, the very small, as well as the good-sized berries. 



