326 Grapes in 1868. 



GRAPES IN 1868. 



The present season has been marked by a late, cold spring ; cold, dull 

 weather in May and June, retarding the blossoming of the grape in many 

 instances till the fourth day of July ; and a frost of unusual earliness and 

 severity on the night of the 17th of September. We should have been 

 very badly off for grapes unless we had had decided help from the intensely 

 hot weather in July. The most experienced grower of out-door grapes in 

 this State calls this season the worst he has known for twenty years : yet, 

 if this be really the worst, we may take heart, and go on with our work ; for 

 grapes, in very many cases, have been far from a failure. 



I give below briefly the results obtained with my own vines, glancing 

 now and then at what my neighbors and friends have done. 



Allen's Hybrid. — Vines vigorous and healthy ; showing in August, in un- 

 favorable, damp locations, only very slight traces of mildew. No fruit. In 

 Hingham, Mass., on rich, deeply-trenched soil, this variety succeeds admi- 

 rably. The vines of Mr. Alfred Loring of the above town were perfectly 

 loaded with rich clusters, some of which weighed a pound each. 



Alvcy. — Vine not a rank grower ; healthy, and free from mildew. No 

 fruit. 



Adirondjc. — -Vines of this kind made only a tolerable giowth. There 

 seems to be an undefined weakness inherent in the Adirondac that possi- 

 bly will prevent its being widely planted. An Adirondac and lona vine of 

 the same age, planted side by side, in precisely similar soil, afford a striking 

 contrast ; the lona being of rank and robust growth, with several fine 

 clusters, and the Adirondac showing hardly any growth at all. 



Concord. — This standard variety behaved as usual. With me, the frost 

 of the 17th of September only cut down the leaves at the top of the trellises. 

 Most of my vines are now (Oct. 14) green and uninjured. 



Clara. — Very late, tender, and subject to mildew. Have cut mine 

 down. 



Clinton. — I am gradually weeding out the few vines I possess of this 

 atrocious variety. I say, gradually ; for where there is a bit of root left, or 

 a cutting: buried, a vine will be sure to come. 



