314 Notes and Gleanings. 



Improvement of Native Grapes. — Whether the native grape is to be im- 

 proved in the quahties essential to a hardy plant by hybridizing it with the 

 foreign species, is a question that presents itself rather prominently at the pres- 

 ent time. The prevailing idea in the minds of those who advocate this process 

 of amelioration is, that the native grape is deficient in sugar, — a want, it is sup- 

 posed, that may supplied by the agency of the foreign fruit. 



It has appeared to me, from the published analysis of grape-juice, that an 

 excess of acid, rather than a deficiency of sugar, is made apparent. So far as 

 regards the saccharine principle, the native grapes, especially the improved vari- 

 eties, compare favorably with the foreign. It is also understood that cultivation 

 has a great influence in diminishing the acid : this, we find, is made evident as 

 improved seedlings are brought into notice. 



But a far more important preliminary is to secure a perfectly healthy and 

 hardy plant. 



It is well known that all attempts to grow the foreign grape profitably in ordi- 

 nary vineyards throughout the Atlantic States have failed. The sudden, and 

 oftentimes extreme, variations of temperature during the season of growth induce 

 weakness, and its frequent consequence, mildew, both on fruit and foliage ; at all 

 times making the crop precarious, and ultimately causing the death of the plant. 

 This is the uniform result of all experiments with the foreign vine. How is it 

 with regard to the native ? With most of the finer flavored and esteemed vari- 

 eties, a tendency to injury from fungoid growths is the great barrier to complete 

 success in grape and wine culture. Now we arrive at the question, If the par- 

 tial failure of the best of our native varieties is due to their liability to disease, 

 are we likely to secure a healthy variety by hybridizing with the foreign grapes 

 that are confessedly subject to failure in consequence of diseased foliage ? Will 

 two wrongs make one right in this matter ? My conviction is, that we shall more 

 certainly succeed in securing a valuable improvement by crossing and hybridiz- 

 ing the best of the native kinds, keeping entirely clear of the weakness of the 

 foreign varieties. 



Even if it is considered judicious to hybridize the two species, it would surely 

 be wise to employ only the hardiest and most robust varieties of each family ; 

 such as, for instance, the Clinton and the Sweet-water, or the Concord and Golden 

 Chasselas : but, even with these, the chance of inherent weakness would, to a 

 certain extent, exist. 



A new grape-vine that is not of vigorous constitution is of but little value. 

 Our nursery catalogues are largely made up of varieties that will never be gener- 

 ally planted; and notwithstanding the very minute descriptive and somewhat 

 enticing notices of certain varieties, as well as the very demonstrative nature 

 of the articles in their favor, the fact is conspicuous that these so-called best 

 varieties are but sparingly planted, while those in many lists described as inferior, 

 and unworthy of culture, are planted extensively. This shows better than any 

 other example that healthy varieties even of inferior fruits are more valuable 

 than fine-flavored berries on unhealthy plants. The sole cause of disease in the 

 grape, so far as I can discover, is mildew. Some writers seem to hint that this 

 mildew idea is a mere chimera of mildewed minds ; but those who have for 



