26 The Knox Fruit-Farm. 



itself a paying investment. Though not equal in quality to some other 



* 



grapes, it is found to be very acceptable to a large class of consumers, who 

 eagerly purchase it at home and in distant markets, paying a high piice 

 for the fruit. 



The plantations of Ives rival those of the Concord in their healthful and 

 vigorous appearance. The vines are still young, but are beginning to bear ; 

 and the fruit is highly satisfactory both for market and for wine, but es- 

 pecially for the latter purpose. 



The Rentz vines are still young, and without fruit : but their beautiful, 

 vigorous growth, and perfectly healthy foliage, make them rank with the 

 class of vines that may be recommended to planters. The qualities of 

 the fruit for table and wine are promising, and worthy further trial. 



Here as elsewhere, especially in the West, the Norton takes high rank 

 as a healthy, productive, and vigorous grape, yielding a large vintage of 

 generous red wine, that is only too heavy for every-day table-use. 



The Herbemont shows its extreme vigor in vine and foliage, and is very 

 productive of large, crowded clusters. Though the berries are rather small, 

 they are delicious and refreshing. Being essentially juice-grapes, their yield 

 in wine is large, and very fine. 



Elsinborough, belonging to the cordifolia class, is sufficiently vigorous, 

 and reasonably productive. The bunches are loose ; the berries small, but 

 most deliciously rich and sweet; attractive alike to birds, and to those per- 

 sons who have a refined taste for nice things. The proprietor stated that 

 he did not grow this variety for the market : it was never sold, but retained 

 for his own use and that of his friends. Happy the man who has his 

 trellis full of such ! 



Alvey is a vine that should take similar rank, only that it is worthy of 

 higher honor and position. The habit is that of a free-grower, with ihin 

 but abundant and healthy foliage, of the kind and color that is truly re- 

 freshing. The bunches are of good size, not crowded nor straggling, rather 

 well formed ; the berries of medium size, or below, round, black, having 

 a very thin skin, no pulp, few seeds, but, oh, how much, and what delicious, 

 sprightly juice ! This is essentially an amateur fruit, suited to the most 

 refined taste ; but it will not bear transportation to market. The wine pro- 

 duced from this variety is very fine; but the crop of fruit is not always 

 abundant. 



