TJic Croton Grape. 223 



It was introduced to notice by the Messrs. Hovey & Co., and exhibited 

 by them for the first time at the annual exhibition of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, in September, 1867, where, from its great size and 

 other promising qualities, it attracted considerable notice. 



The plant is two feet and upwards in height, strong and vigorous j stem 

 stout and branching, with dark-green foliage ; the pods are of raarnmoth 

 proportions, often measuring five inches in length, with a diameter of four 

 inches ; color dark green ; form irregular j flesh thick, with a hard and firm 

 texture, and sufficient pungency to make a first-rate pickle, as we can testi- 

 fy from our own experience. It has so much substance, that it can be kept 

 in salt without going to pieces ; as many of the large, thin-fleshed varieties 

 are liable to do, especially if gathered before they becom-e sufficiently 

 mature. 



The variety is late, and, where the raising of seed is an object, should be 

 sown by the middle of March in a hot-bed prepared for the purpose. If 

 the sowing be delayed until April, a fair crop of the green pods may be 

 expected suitable for picking, but no seed. We consider this pepper a 

 valuable one, and worthy of cultivation, C. N. B. 



Newton, February, 1S69. 



THE CROTON GRAPE. 



The Croton Grape, which we figure this month, was grown by Stephen 

 Underbill of Croton Point, N.Y., who favors us with the following descrip- 

 tion : — 



" The white grape named the ' Croton ' was raised, with a number of 

 others, from Delaware-seed pioduced by fertilizing the blossom of the Dela- 

 ware-vine with pollen from the Chasselas de Fontainebleau, in the open 

 vine3'ard. The seed was planted in the spring of 1863, and the resulting 

 seedling bore its first fruit in 1865. The vine has borne good crops every 

 year since, ripening with the Hartford Prolific. It is a vigorous grower, 

 and holds its foliage remarkably well, preserving its leaves the present sea- 

 son among Isabella-vines that had lost most of theirs." 



Several of Mr. Underbill's seedlings, including the Croton, were shown 

 by their originator at the last annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Hor- 



