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Grapes — open culture. — It is but a few years since we could speak 

 of our native grapes in higher commendation than we now speak of the 

 wild grape of the woods, of a foxy smell and hard pulp. Such vines are 

 often transplanted from their wild state to the homestead, with the expec- 

 tation of an improvement in quality. The object is futile, for all manur- 

 ing and care will never divest it of its hard pulp or foxiness. There are 

 some who never have tasted anything better, and still adhere with tenacity 

 to a hard pulp and strong foxy flavor, believing it the best grape grown. 

 Such an one was the man who was recently shown a handsome bunch of 

 the Rebecca, and advised to plant a vine of this variety. He insisted that 

 he had a large white grape, which he had transplanted from the woods, 

 and " so perfectly delicious was it, that it could be smelt over the whole 

 house." 



The new varieties have attracted much attention, since we have little or 

 no hope of success with either the Catawba or Isabella, except in the most 

 favorable location, in this region. Mr. Cutter has shown the Isabella, 

 though hardly equalling those of past years, while Mr. Grant has shown the 

 Isabella and Catawba. Some few others have shown the Isabella, grown 

 in the city or in the immediate vicinity. This, however, is no criterion for 

 general culture, for we have had Black Hamburghs, Sweetwater, and other 

 tender grapes grown on walls in the city. What we want, is a grape of a 

 quality not inferior to the Isabella, and ripening seasonably to insure a crop 

 previous to the autumn frosts, and this we think we have in several new 

 seedlings, unless the mildew should prove destructive — and, from its ravages 

 the past season, we have reason to fear our worst predictions may be veri- 

 fied, unless, with the aid of sulphur, it should be stopped. 



The Concord, so often spoken of heretofore, has ripened in many 

 instances where the Isabella has failed. Mr. Bull has shown them in 

 abundance, but few others have done so, probably for the reason that it 

 has not been planted out a sufficient length of time to allow of a liberal 

 show. Those shown by Mr. B. were large, both in bunch and berry, and 

 few grapes prove more attractive than does the Concord, with its rich bloom 

 overlaying every berry. It is a valuable acquisition, and Mr. B. is deserv- 

 ing of a liberal reward for his patient waiting, biding the time when the 

 community will say he should be amply compensated for originating so 

 valuable a grape. 



The Rebecca has now become so popular for its early ripening, good 

 qualities and hardiness that if not already in the hands of most grape grow- 

 ers, it soon will be. It is one of the most valuable grapes for out-door 

 culture that has ever been introduced amongst us ; and then, too, it is so 

 easy of propagation, that in the hands of almost any person it can be multi- 

 plied ad libitum. A person procured one dozen vines in the autumn of 

 1856, and immediately commenced its propagation in earnest, as may be 

 judged ; for he assures us that from that dozen vines he should have ready 

 potted and for sale, three thousand vines for the spring of 1858. We were 

 glad to have such evidence of its readiness to propagate, believing that it 

 should be in the hands of every one owning the smallest piece of ground. 



