DESCKIITION OF VAEIKTIES. 



For this the peach, wlien in perfect condition, in Us best kinds, is 

 eminent, as also the citron-melon, the best of pears, and especially the 

 best of apples ; but the true grape stands at the head of refreshing 

 and invigorating fruits, greatly surpassing them all. 



Great numbers of seedlings have been produced from the Isabella, 

 But none of distinguished merit are before the public, except Union 

 Village, Ueljecca, and Israella, the latter recently Introduced by my- 

 nelf. The evidence of the parentage of the Rebecca is not positive, 

 and leads only to a strong presumption. The Isabella is so much dis- 

 posed to the production of what are called white kinds, all of which are 

 more or less greenish, that among those which 1 have grown, at least 

 one third are of that color; and many of them have foliage which is 

 not distinguishable from the Rebecca, with fruit also strongly resemb- 

 ling it in appearance and quality, but in all instances retaining some- 

 thing of the Isabella flavor, as is the case with the Rebecca. Some 

 are much better than the parent in quality, but more are either not 

 better or below. A number would have been very good if their foliage 

 had not been tender like that of the Rebecca ; but they have been gen- 

 erally lacking In vinous spirit, besides retaining too distinct sugges- 

 tions of their foxy parentage. 



Hyde's Eliza is a seedling from Isabella, and may be somewhat 

 earlier but is not better, and has not deserved the reputation that it 

 has received from the error by which York Madeira was disseminated 

 under that name. 



I^rAella is very distinguishable from the foregoing, having strong 

 and enduring foliage, with fruit sufficiently vinous and spirited ; that 

 npens and becomes very sugary and tender quite to the center. Until 

 the fruit has become quite ripe, the flavor is slightly suggestive of its 

 origin ; but whea fully mature, it is of such purity as to have been call- 

 ed the " American Hamburg." The bunches are large, compact, and 

 shouldered ; berries large, globular, and very dark, adhering to the 

 peduncle firmly, and remaining a bunch when dried to raisins. 



Raisins can only be made of fleshy grapes, the substance of which all 

 becomes elaborated into fruit. Such grapes as Isabella, Concord, Hart- 

 ford Prolific, etc., may be dried ; but the part that is fully ripened dries 

 all away, and the part that remains unripe is, when dried, simply a 

 ra.ass of fibrous acidity, Herbemont being nearly all juice, (contained 

 of course in cellular bags,) and without7?<3sA, in drying leaves notliing 

 except the skin and seeds. The Muscat of Alexandria, and the Fron- 

 tignans, are fleshy but perfect fruit, and uniform to the center; and 

 when dried, have still much substance remaining, which retains, in a 

 concentrated form, a large part of the excellence which belonged to the 

 fruit in its fresh condition ; for examples of which see the best bloom 

 raisins which are made of these grapes. In this sense the Israella is a 

 fleshy grape, having fruity substance when dried, that is rich and 

 spirited in flavor. 



The Israella ripens very early ; has never been aHected by rot or 

 mildew, and is one of the best for late keeping in consequence of its 

 fleshy structure ; and ths vine is all that can be desu-ed in habit, mak- 

 ing strong, short-jointed canes, that ripen early and endure the winter 

 iininjured. 



Union Village is a very remarkable seedling from the Isabella, pro- 

 duced by the Shakers at Union Village, near Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 

 very large in all its proportions of vine, foliage, bunches, and berries. 

 The bunches have weighed more than two pounds, and the berries 

 •qual the size of Hamburgs. In flavor it Is nearly pure, sweet but 

 only moderately vinous, and becomes good quite to the center, and 

 ripens at least one week before Isabella. It is often suffered to over- 

 bear, which prevents the wood from ripening and renders the vine lia- 

 ble to winter-killing. It is, under favorable conditions, as hardy as 

 Isabella and is nearly free from its foxy defects. It is immensely 

 productive, and always becomes one of the wonders of the garden. 



The Manhattan is a seedling of the Isabella, while in color but main- 

 lltlniug much of the Isabella ch.iracter in its fruit. It has the thin, 

 |«pery leaves of the parent, and is even more subject to mildew and 

 Bun-scald. The fruit has more spirit than the Isabella, but is not with- 

 out Its faults in flavor and structure, which render it unfit for general 

 cultivation. 



I have left the Rebecca until the last, not because It is not worthy of 

 consideration, but because its difference of color would at first thought 

 place it in a class of that color ; but we shall hereafter have more of this 

 svior that are of Isabella orij,'ici, and partake in the same manner of its 

 aivacter. 



The Rebecca has been very extensively disseminated, but its habits, 

 qualities, and requirements are' not yet generally understood; in con- 

 sequence of which many have been disappointed. It is not a diminutive 

 grower, so far as the length and size of its canes are concerned, but its 

 foliage is small, deficient in enduring substance, and suffers badly from 

 the trials of our ordinary summers, except in specially favorable local- 

 ities. The leaves often fail before either the fruit or wood becom* 

 mature, rendering the first greatly deficient in spirit and flavor, and tlu 

 latter with its roots tender and unable to endure the winter. It is one 

 of the easiest to propagate, so far as the multiplication of numbers le 

 concerned, but one of the most difficult for the production of strong 

 hardy plants, that retain their leaves in full action to the end of th' 

 seasoiy' 



The bunches are medium or small, often slightly shouldered ; berrie 

 medium, often large globular, or pyriform from pressure ; color light 

 yellowish green, nearly white, tinged with pale amber when struck by 

 the sun, with some degree of translucency, giving something of the a.\y- 

 pearance of foreign grapes. In the texture and formation of the flesh 

 there is also an approach to the European character, becoming nearly 

 sweet and tender to the center ; and when so fully ripened that the skins 

 become pretty thin, the juice is sweet, moderately invigorating, and with 

 but little of the impurities of the Isabella. Even when in best condition, 

 it always lacks the vinous spirit that is the proper constituent of a grape 

 of very high excellence, and is never without at least a slight intimation 

 of its foxy origin. 



The Catawba is the tj^pe of a widely different group, that may be 

 characterized as high-flavored, invigorating, and vinous or wine-making, 

 in contradistinction from the foregoing generally feeble-flavored, spirit- 

 less, or unanimating kinds. 



In form and size the bunches of the Catawba are much like Isabella, 

 but less compact, with stronger and more woody peduncles, to which 

 the berries remain more firmly attached. The berries have the same 

 structure and texture, ripening from near the surface towards the cen- 

 ter, but never quite reaching it; always having some tough, fibrous 

 flesh at the center, which remains unripe and acid. The skins have 

 also, even when in best condition, some pungency that on"ends tender 

 mouUis, and something of foxy odor ; and there is also always present 

 in the juice some tannic acid, which causes a perceptible degree of as- 

 tringency. In sugar, tartaric acid, and spices, well produced and well 

 ripened Catawbas are rich, and the juice is strongly suggestive of re- 

 freshing wine. In this the excellence of the true grape is marred by the 

 inseparable defects named ; but the vinous spirit has made it a favorite 

 with many to whom the Isabella family have furnished no enjoyment. 



Although it is much above the Isabella in quality, and commands a 

 higher price as it is ordinarily sold in New-York markets, it is rarely if 

 ever found there in its best condition, the climate of the vicinity not 

 being sufficient to mature the fruit fully under the ordinary circum- 

 stances of open culture, without the strict training and severe thinning 

 which are not often given. Excellent wine, resembling the German 

 Iloch of high character, has for many years been made of it at Cincin- 

 nati, whicli is more than three degrees farther south ; but that which 

 is made and advertised as " Pure Catawba Wine," in the latitude of 

 New- York, has never deserved the name. The defects have not been 

 simply tlie want of richness and the mingling of the acids of the unripe 

 fruit in the juice, to its deterioration, but the fine elaboration of the part 

 next the skin, which afTords the exquisite spice, not being performed 

 by the completion of the ripening process, a harsh flavor and offensive 

 odor takes its place. (See this matter fully treated in Landmarks.) 



The large globular berries have often a fine, deep purple color, with 

 a good degree of translucency that give promise of excellence, and 

 makes it very beautiful. It is also beautiful before becoming fully ripe, 

 when the coppery red is beginning to be veined with the streakings of 

 violet, which afterwards soften and blend to produce the purple which 

 characterizes its maturity. 



It is of Southern origin, and requires special care in the most favor- 

 able situations, to enable it to perform well in the latitude of New- York ; 

 and it is everywhere so disposed to great loss by rot, that the high value 

 which would have belonged to its excellence of quality, has been great- 

 ly lessened, and it is now being rapidly superseded by better, as well as 

 more hardy kinds. A grape called Bland's Virginia, of the same char- 

 acter of fruit, but better in quality, was introduced many years since; 

 but its foliage was so tender that its cultivation has not been extended 

 even in gardens. Bland has less fibrous toughness tlian Catawbk, 



