lona and Delaware. 281 



lONA AND DELAAVARE. 



These varieties of our native grape may be compared and classed with 

 those grapes of Europe, such as the Pinot, sometimes called the Burgundy 

 grape, and of which their most excellent Burgundy wines are made ; the 

 Riessling, or Klanier, known also under many other local names, of which 

 the fine German wines of the Hock class are made ; including Steinburg 

 and Johannisberg, the most precious and costly wines of Europe. That the 

 lona and Delaware do compare favorably with those named, no one who 

 has tasted the wine made from them, side by side with the best brands of 

 the celebrated wines named, can doubt. The Delaware loses nothing in 

 comparison, while the lona gains ; for it undoubtedly has qualities superior 

 to all, which are brought out and clearly proved to the mind of the most 

 inexperienced wine-taster by this comparison. 



It is difficult for one of us to believe, that, while yet grape-culture is in 

 its infancy, we have already a grape fully equal, and in some respects 

 superior, to the best known in the Old World, — the must of lona made 

 from grapes fairly ripe weighing 120 ; while that from fruit more perfectly 

 rijDened, slightly shrivelled, but yet taken directly from the vine to the 

 press, weighed 140. Compare this must with that made from the most 

 thoroughly ripened fruit of Catawba, Clinton, or Concord, and remember 

 the lona has no excess of acid, and also remembering the exquisite flavor 

 of the grape, and who can doubt its making a wine equal to the best 

 in the world ? I have a bunch of lona grapes now before me : it was put 

 away last fall for the purpose of saving the seeds in best condition for 

 planting this coming spring. Looking it up to-day, I found it as perfect 

 a cluster of raisins as I have ever seen. It has been, since taken 

 from the vine, in a cold, dark, damp room in which there has been no fire. 

 I did not think it possible for any grape to dry into a raisin under such cir- 

 cumstances. A bunch each of several varieties was with it ; but all had 

 decayed, except the lona. 



Concord and Clinton may be classed with that European family of 

 grapes known as Gamai. This class of grapes is distinguished for its early 

 and abundant productiveness, but of great inferiority of quality ; so that its 



VOL. I. 36 



