DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



In reading the following descriptions, many will be disappointed at not finding any 

 notice of a great number of kinds that have been highly praised in different quarters. 

 In answer to all on these grounds, it may be said that, in my belief, there- is not af^iy 

 grape of even tolerable quality before the pubh'c with which I am not acquainted, and 

 that all which are worthy of any attention are herein noticed and described according 

 to their merits. The Isabella and Catawba have heretofore been omitted, under the 

 idea of their being universally known, and descriptions of them, except incidentally in 

 the account of flavor, such as have been given, would be more than superfluous. As 

 the description, however, has been frequently called for, it is here given. 



Catawba has large, sufficiently compact bunches, branched or shouldered, with 

 large, globular berries. In color there is great variation, which is not always indicative 

 of quality. The fruit is often pretty sweet and tender while no darker than copper, 

 but when in best condition is dark claret, with some degree of translucency, and when 

 as ripe as possible has but a moderate amount of tough unripeness at the center, with 

 some astringency and pungency of skin, and something of the fox or offensive muski- 

 ness. It is spicy, very sugary, vinous, and refreshing. In the latitude of New-York, 

 under ordinary circumstances, it does not attain its best degree of ripeness, or such as 

 will enable it to make wine, although it is distinctively a wine grape, rich, spirited, and 

 refreshing. It rots badly when subjected to a chilling atmosphere or long successions of 

 foggy weather. As a table grape it is generally associated with the Isabella, but is 

 greatly superior to it in richness and vinous refreshment. 



Isabella has large shouldered bunches, with large, somewhat oval berries, whicli 

 begin to blacken early, but advance to ripeness rather slowly. It is less adhesive in 

 its texture than the Catawba, and often nearly loses its toughness almost to the center, 

 but is always without sweetness there. It is at all times greatly deficient in the 

 refreshing property, and is rather feebly flavored, lacking the spirited, vinous property 

 which constitutes the great degree of excellence possessed hj good grapes. It is always 

 foxy and pungent, its skin making tender mouths sore, and its flavor offending sensi- 

 tive stomachs. Its peduncles and pedicles are herbaceous, and when subjected to cold 

 become very fragile, and the berries drop with a slight touch. Effervescing wine is 

 made of it/by the addition of sugar, as is done with Catawba also, when sparkling 

 wine is made of that, but it lacks the ability to make good still wine under any circum- 

 stances, and is not a wine grape, being deficient in richness. 



ANNA. 



It is an early and profuse bearer, and the produce of young vines _is_ of very high 

 flavor, but not without a considerable degree of toughness, which diminishes as the 

 vines acquire age and maturity. 



It begins to ripen about as early as Diana and considerably before Catawba, but mi- 

 proves by hanging long upon the vines, and is not injured in texture or flavor by severe 

 frost. For late keeping it is remarkable, and its raisins are of unequaled quality. 



The bunches are large and loose, or moderately compact on young vines, but on 

 those that are mature, compact, shouldered, and symmetric. Berries large, globular, 

 tran.slucent, and firmly adhering to the pedicels. The color varies from light amber m 

 the sun to pearly white or green in the shade. The bloom is white and abundant, 

 through which may be seen a few brown dots. It is surpassingly sweet, rich, vmous, 

 and somewhat spicy in its flavor, and has a decided but pure and agreeable aroma. 



Notwithstanding its exceedingly concentrated flavor, it leaves the mouth cool and 



healthy. n x. a 



In habit it is much like Catawba, very healthy and vigorous ; leaves very fleshy and 



firm, remarkably exempt from- disposition to mildew, and ripens its wood earlier and 



more perfectly than any variety with which I am acquainted, and does not lose its 



leaves until it has matured its fruit. 



When tasted by the side of Catawba the latter ceases to be a high-flavored grape. 



