Delaware. 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



Delaware. 91 



Delaware. Origin unknown. It was 

 found many years since in the garden 

 of Paul H. Provost, Frenchtown, Hun- 

 terdon Co., N. J., who had immigrated 

 from Switzerland, and brought with 

 him many varieties of foreign grapes, 

 which he cultivated in his garden. It 

 was first known as the " Italian Wine 

 Orape," then it was supposed to be the 

 "Red Traminer," or a seedling from 

 this variety. We have strong reasons 

 to believe it a hybrid between the Vilis 

 Labrusca and V. Vinifera. 



This variety, first brought to notice* 

 by A. Thompson, Delaware, O., is con- 

 sidered to be one of the best, if not the 

 best, of all American grapes. It seems 

 ENTIRELY FREE FROM ROT in all seasons, 

 and its perfect hardiness and unsur- 

 passed quality and popularity, both as 

 a table fruit and for wine, places this 

 variety at the head of American grapes. 

 Unfortunately and from various causes, 

 it does not, succeed well in many locali- 

 ties ; it should be planted in deep, rich 

 oil, open and well-drained, here on 

 northeast and eastern slopes, and re- 

 quires good cultivation (thinning the 

 crop) and pruning to short laterals. Its 

 roots are slender, and not inclined to 

 branch out much ; of medium tough- 

 ness, with a rather soft liber. Canes 

 proportionate, in length and thickness, 

 with an average number of laterals. 

 "Wood hard, with a small pith. It is a 

 slow grower. Fourteen hundred and 

 fifty vines may well be planted to the 

 acre, 5 to 6 feet being a sufficient dis- 

 tance. The Delaware is exceedingly 

 hardy, enduring uninjured the sever- 

 est winters, if the vines are healthy. 

 In some localities it yields a sure and 

 abundant crop, and is entirely without 

 a rival for the production of a fine white wine. 

 In some parts of Michigan (St. Joseph, Benton 

 Harbor), for instance, it annually produces 

 {since 1864 to this day) as many pounds to the 

 vine as the Concord, and is even more certain. 

 In Maine also it is considered." altogether the 

 test grape we have." In other localities, how- 

 ever, it has been found subject to mildew or 

 leaf-blight, and this tendency is greatly aggra- 

 vated by allowing the vines to overbear, which 

 the Delaware, if permitted, is sure to do. Good 

 authorities recommend a slight coping over the 

 vines as a protection against mildew. Its root 



* Am. Pomol. Society, 1855. 



DELAWARE. 



was supposed to be sensitive to Phylloxera, 

 and its leaves are often covered with galls pro- 

 duced by this insect ; but Reich of Armeill&re, 

 the eminent grape-grower of the Rhone-Delta, 

 has furnished proof that this variety also is 

 successfully resisting the attacks of Phyllox- 

 era. He artificially infected them with the 

 insect, three times each year, without doing 

 them any harm. 



Bunch small to medium, compact; clus- 

 ters usually shouldered ; berries below medi- 

 um, round; skin thin, but tenacious; pulp 

 sweet and tender ; juice abundant, rich, vinous 

 and sugary, sprightly and refreshing ; color a 



