Culture of the Grape in Cities. 297 



Were I asked for a list of vines most appropriate for city culture, I should 

 be governed in my selection principally by the quality of the fruit ; and 

 while procuring specimens of certain varieties because of their prominency 

 before the public, and the pending discussion respecting their merits, I 

 should be careful to secure an abundant supply of such as met the require- 

 ments of my own taste, and were sure of gaining the favor of my friends. 

 As, in my judgment, the most delicious of all hardy grapes, and above the 

 criticism of the fastidious, the beautiful lona should enta- largely into the 

 collection. I would have the sweet and vinous Delaware, Israella, Diana, 

 Allen's Hybrid, and Rebecca. The Adirondack must worthily occupy a 

 place. Some of Rogers's Hybrids, fifteen, nineteen, and thirty-three, should 

 be procured ; and Salem, pronounced by Mr. Rogers to be the best of the 

 family. One vigorous Concord should grace the collection, charming the 

 eye amid a thousand vines by its rare beauty both of foliage and fruit, — a 

 grape possessing every excellence /^/// one; and I suppose that elsewhere 

 k must be a palatable grape, and foxy only in Maryland, or how could it 

 have been installed in the post of honor by so many gentlemen of taste 

 and standing ? And the Herbemont must not be forgotten : when all other 

 vines have paid their grateful tribute, and composed themselves for their 

 yearly sleep, it presents its tardy offering, a solid mass of the purest flavor, 

 with a vinous, refreshing energy that is, wonderful. 



Among many vines of excellence, I have selected a few of my favorites. 

 Some of them, in the country, may be classed as tender, or Uable to disease. 

 But a city yard is a favored spot : here they are sheltered from the cold, blight- 

 ing dews of August ; and here, amid the destructive droughts of summer, by 

 means of hose and hydrant, we invoke for them an impromptu shower, health- 

 ful alike to leaf and root; and, when tales of mildew and rot are multiplied 

 in the land, here every leaf is healthy, and every berry mature in its season. 

 While cultivating and enjoying in leisure hours these luscious fruits 

 which a bounteous Providence has set before us, let us seek, ourselves, to 

 become well-trained and fruitful branches of the Living and True Vine, 

 whose clusters are hung so near the toiling children of earth, that all who 

 need may gather, and whose fruit is so replete with vital energy, that he 

 who eats thereof shall live forever. Chas. W. Ridgely. 



Baltimore, Md. 



VOL. I. 38 



