PREFACE 



It is now thirty years since the first edition of this 

 work was written and offered to the public, with many 

 misgivings on the part of the author in regard to its recep- 

 tion and fate. But much to his surprise as well as grat- 

 ification, it was cordially received, and the demand for 

 frequent and large editions has continued down to the 

 present time. 



Now my publishers inform me that the original 

 plates are worn out, by long and continued use, and that 

 the book must be reset or relegated to that bourn, known 

 to the trade as "out of print," and where so many of 

 my worthy contemporaries have found a resting place 

 during the past three decades of grape culture. 



Many changes have occurred in this branch of hor- 

 ticulture during recent years, and valuable discoveries 

 made in the way of materials and mode of applying to 

 prevent the ravages of noxious insects and fungus dis- 

 eases, all contributing more or less to advance the grape 

 industry, which has now become one of great importance 

 to the whole country. An immense number of new 

 varieties have been produced, and yet some of those that 

 were popular thirty-five years ago, still hold their own, 

 and even lead in the markets of all our large viflages and 

 cities, and this, in my opinion, is a better test of their 

 intrinsic value than all the encomiums bestowed upon 

 them from other sources. Some of my earlier critics 

 accused me of over-praising these varieties and neglecting 

 those which they thought were more deserving of com- 



