VOL. VIII.] 



THE 



liftl 



AUGUST, 1885. 



[No. 8. 



THE JEFFERSOK aRAPE. 



Such is the excellence of this grape 

 that we hailed its introduction with 

 more than usual satisfaction. The fruit 

 that it was our privilege to test was 

 not only very pleasant to the eye, but 

 also delicious to the taste ; the flesh, 

 while somewhat meaty, was tender and 

 juicy, with a rich, aromatic and slightly 

 vinous flavor. The fruit possessed also 

 the very desirable quality of -rnain- 

 taining its freshness for a long time 

 after being gathered. The vines also 

 are healthy and very vigorous, and the 

 leaves thick and downy, and as it was 

 reported to ripen with, or very soon 

 after the Concord, it was expected that 

 the JeSerson would be a very desirable 

 acquisition. 



The object specially in view in thus 

 calling attention so prominently to this 

 grape, is to obtain from our readers 

 their experience with it thus far, and 

 to request them to note carefully its 

 performance this season, and to com- 

 municate their observations to the 

 Canadian Horticulturist for the benefit 

 of others. We are entertaining some 

 fears lest this excellent grape shall be 

 found to ripen too late for any but the 

 warmest sections of Ontario, and are 

 desirous of laying befoi'e our readers all 



the information that can be obtained 

 with regard to its adaptation to our 

 climate. It is disappointing to plant 

 an otherwise very desirable fruit if it 

 turns out at last that our summer 

 season is too short or too cool to admit 

 of its ripening perfectly. If, on the 

 contrary, experiment shall have demon- 

 strated that the Jefierson will thrive 

 and bring its grapes to perfection in 

 any considerable part of Ontario, those 

 who desire to plant choice fruits of the 

 finest quality, will be greatly gratified 

 to know the fact. 



Fortunately, we have some excellent 

 grapes that do ripen sufficiently early 

 to be planted with confidence over a 

 very large part of Ontario. The Early 

 Victor is one of these. It is a chance 

 seedling, having no known parentage, 

 that has been cultivated and dissemin- 

 ated by Mr. John Burr, of Leaven- 

 worth, Kansas. We have found the 

 vine to be perfectly hardy here, healthy, 

 vigorous, and very productive. The 

 bunches and berries greatly resemble 

 the Clinton in size and color. The 

 flesh of the grapes is slightly pulpy, 

 has a most agreeable sprightly vinous 

 flavor, without the least trace of foxi- 

 ness whatever. The fruit ripens a 



