8 



It is very juicy, and 'its juice is wine — ricli, sugary, and spicy, with a fine delicate 

 aroma, suggestive of tlic Red Frontignac, and surpassing that excellent variety in its 

 brisk, pure, vinous flavor. 



Professor Waring has well characterized it: "Those Delaware grapes, which I received 

 from you gave a thrill of exquisite delight, such as I never before experienced from any 

 fruit. Its juice has all of the generous exhilaration of wine — is perfectly satisfying to 

 the palate, and not in the least cloying. We are impatient to be able to gather the fruit 

 abundantly, and were exceedingly disappointed at not being able to get the vines as 

 soon as we had expected." 



Mr. Charles Downing, speaking of it, says : "Although the Delaware was highly 

 prized and warmly commended by me from my first acquaintance with it, I have until 

 recently maintained preference for my old favorite, the sweet, luscious Black Hamburg 

 But to the pure, rich, sugary wine of the Delaware, as it now grows with us, I must 

 concede my preference. It constantly grows upon my liking, and when I consider all 

 its excellences, regarding its fine, healthy, vigorous habit, as well as quality of fruit, I 

 can scarcely speak of it in measured terms of praise." 



DIANA. 



This was grown from seed, by Mrs. Diana Crehore, of Milton Hill, near Boston, and 

 brought to general notice by Ilovei/s Magazine in 1844. 



In consequence of the excellence of its fruit, and the earliness of ripening, the vines 

 immediately brought extremely high prices ; but from bad propagation the plants be- 

 came enfeebled, and it soon acquired the damaging reputation of being very feeble in 

 growth, which is directly the reverse of its true character. It is more vigorous, and 

 especially while young, than its parent the Catawba, and requires the same care to have 

 no more canes grow in any given space than will find full accommodation, which should 

 be provided for by pruning and disbudding early in the season. 



On well-prepared ground it will make shoots of 15 to 20 feet in length the second sea- 

 son afler planting. All of its leaves should have full exposure to the sun. This is 

 indispensable for its jpresent and future health ; and towards the last of August its shoots 

 should be stopped, to induce early ripening of the wood. It should also be remembered 

 that it is greatly disposed to over-bear while young, and heroic firmness exercised in 

 thinning. It is able richly to repay all the cost that its proper treatment requires. In 

 the pure high character of its flavor it is only second to the Delaware, and will be most 

 satisfictorily enjoyed by those who delight in the vinous sweetness of the red Constantia. 

 To those who find enjoyment in the pungency of the skins of the Isabella, it lacks an 

 element of pleasure. Although it is in excellent eating condition very early, it hangs 

 very late on the vines, even enduring severe frost without damage, and for late keepmg 

 It is scarcely equalled. It readily dries, and become a rich winey raisin. 



The Diana is constantly and surely gaining in reputation as its merits, habits, and 

 requirements become known. 



It bears so early and so profusely while it is young and immature, that its first pro- 

 duce does not mature early, and exhibits but little of the excellence that belongs to 

 more mature vines at the age of four or five years. At this age, if under favorable 

 conditions of cultivation, the vines may be suffered to bear pretty heavy crops, which 

 will ripen early, with flavor pure, exceedingly sugary, vinous, spicy, and refreshing. 



But the full degree of excellence in flavor and earliness in ripening must not be 

 expected in less than eight years from the time of planting, which is not more than is 

 required by Catawba and Isabella. At that age, under equal cultivation, the Diana is 

 8Q greatly superior even to Catawba as to scarcely admit of comparison for the table, 

 and is greatly superior to it for wine also. 



Shallow preparation of the ground and excessive enrichment cause a soft, unsubstan- 

 tial growth of wood, and render the crops small and inferior, and the ripening imperfect 

 or uncertain. 



Its habit of growth is very vigorous while young, Init with pretty short joints and 

 abundant foliage. When established in bearing, its joints become exceedingly close 



