Notes and Gleanings. 367 



to tliis latitude. Several spurious varieties have been sent out from Eastern 

 nurseries under this name, against which the public should be on their guard. 

 The true Cynthiana, as remarked before, resembles Norton's Virginia so closely 

 in growth and foliage, that few will see the difference. The berry is a trifle 

 larger, somewhat more juicy, not quite so astringent. It will make a dark-red 

 wine of very delicate flavor ; which will, on that account, please the wine con- 

 noisseur better than the Norton. It has not as much astringency ; which latter 

 quality makes the Norton's Virginia invaluable as a wine for medical purposes. 

 Wine of the Cynthiana has been sent to Europe, and was there pronounced the 

 finest red wine which they had yet tested. It is, no doubt, one of the most 

 valuable and reliable grapes for our latitude. Specific gravity of tlie must by 

 Ouhsles scale this season, a hundred aad twenty degrees. 



Martha. — This bids fair to be one of the most valuable for white wine. 

 Exceedingly hardy, healthy, and productive, it has all the good qualities of its 

 parent, the Concord, though perhaps not as showy for market. Bunch medium, 

 shouldered, moderately compact ; berry medium, round, pale-yellow, with white 

 bloom, translucent, thin skin; generally but two seeds in a berry ; very sweet, 

 juicy, somewhat foxy. It has fruited with me four seasons, and has shown no 

 sign of disease as yet. Specific gravity of the must, ninety-two degrees, — just 

 ten degrees more than the Concord. I iiave made some wine of it this season, 

 and shall report on it in due time. 



Maxatawney. — This has fruited only once here with me, and was the best 

 white table-grape I had on my grounds. I am not certain, however, whether it 

 has spirit enough for wine. It seems to be hardy, healthy, and productive ; is 

 a fine grower, and better in quality than Rebecca, while it will produce four times 

 as much. Bunch medium, rather loose ; berry medium, oblong or oval, golden 

 yellow, with a slight pale-red tinge on the sunny side ; translucent ; very sweet 

 and juicy. Specific gravity of the must, eighty-two degrees. 



If these reports on varieties should 'prove interesting to your readers, they 

 may be continued through future numbers. Of course, they have only a local 

 character ; and I wish to have them appear oii^.y as such. I should be glad to see 

 similar reports from different sections of the country. If they come from strictly 

 reliable sources, it would give the grape-growing public an idea what would suit 

 their latitude best, and what they should try in their locality. Of over a hun- 

 dred varieties I have tried, I have found only fifteen to twenty really desirable ; 

 and would like to save others some of the rather expensive experiments I have 

 had to make. I have bought many a vine with a very fine name, which was 

 said to combine all the excellences of the native and foreign varieties, at from 

 three to five dollars each, which I have had to cast aside as worthless, after fos- 

 tering it with the utmost care for several years. This has taught me to be 

 very cautious in what I buy, and what to recommend. I recommend no variety 

 iox general culture in our locality ttow unless it has fruited with me at ItTistJive 

 seasons, and proved to be healthy, hardy, and of superior quality, either for 

 wine or the table. Can we not get this practice generally introduced, instead of 

 the sickening and exaggerated praises of varieties which have only fruited with 

 their originator one or two seasons ? George Husmann, 



Hermann, Mo., Oct. 8, 1867. 



