



Notes and Gleanings. 381 



possibly, when the fohage does not mildew, it will stand the succeeding winter 

 a little better than the last-named variety. The young vines mildew quite as 

 badly as the Delaware, and rather more so than tlie Isabella. It is not a very 

 strong grower, but perhaps sufficiently so ; though the wood does not harden up 

 well, and in this respect is open to the same objection as the Isabella ; and hence 

 its need of protection. The fruit begins to color very early ; and it really ripens 

 by the middle or last of September, and in this particular fulfils the promises 

 made respecting it. When we tasted the fruit purporting to be from the original 

 vine, we set it down as nearly or quite first-rate ; but we have seen no fruit of 

 this variety raised elsewhere that has ever equalled that. The fact that this 

 fruit, of inferior quality, was raised on young vines, and that it was grown last 

 year, which was not a favorable one for the most perfect development of the 

 good qualities of a grape, are perhaps sufficient reasons to account for its failure 

 to meet the public expectation. Enough certainly is known in its favor to jus- 

 tify planting it in every city or village garden when it can be sure of protection, 

 and in the country when it can have a favorable location, and be covered in the 

 winter. It is really a great acquisition if it shall give us good crops under such 

 circumstances ; and the gentleman who introduced it deserves and will receive 

 the hearty thanks of all lovers of fruits. 



The Benefits of Protection. — Since our forests have been stripped off, 

 allowing the cold winds of winter and spring to sweep over the country so 

 fiercely, some of our finer fruits fail. Time was when the peach-crop of 

 New England was about as sure as the apple-crop ; but latterly it has failed two- 

 thirds of the time. The pear often fails for a similar reason, — want of protec- 

 tion. This was fully proved to my mind, two or three years ago, by seeing in 

 a garden, protected on the north and east by a fence some twelve feet in height, 

 a large crop of the best varieties of pears, as fair and handsome as ever, grown 

 during the season when there was a short crop of this fruit generally ; and it 

 was a noticeable fact, that, the farther one went from the fence to where tlie trees 

 were in some degree exposed, the less the crop. 



It is true that want of protection is not the sole cause of the failure of the 

 peach ; but it would, without doubt, prove a much surer crop if it received pro- 

 tection as of old. 



Not only does this apply particularly to the spring and fall months ; but shel- 

 ter is a great advantage all through the year in the protection from winds, by 

 which much fruit will be saved from being blown down. 



Most emphatically would this be true of the open prairie country of the West. 

 Protection is absolutely demanded, and positively necessary to successful fruit- 

 jrrowinij. 



For this purpose, many things have been recommended ; but evergreens are 

 doubtless the best. Norway spruce, white pine, American spruce, red cedar, or 

 hemlock (though the latter is of rather slow growth), or most any other good 

 evergreen, will answer the purpose. If a deciduous tree and a rapid grower is 

 required, use the silver-maple, or locust at the West, if it can be grown free 



