Othello. 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



Poughkeepaie. 129' 



they with us as good in quality as Arnold's 

 other hybrids. 



In France, however, the Othello does exceedingly 

 well, is enormously productive, and pleases so well in 

 quality and appearance that it is largely propagated 

 and in demand; at Nimes, with M. Guiraud, it has 

 resisted for the last eight years in the midst of a Phyl- 

 loxera-infested district, and wherever tried it has so far 

 proved sufficiently resistent to the insect. 



At a meeting of the Agricultural Society of the He- 

 rault, held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of March, 18^3, at 

 Montpellier, M. SABATIER stated, that eight years pre- 

 viously he had received from Bush & Meissner one 

 dozen OTHELLO plants (for $5) ; his neighbors had 

 taken some, which also had succeeded admirably, and 

 of those which he kept for himself he was offered last 

 year 1500 francs per 1,000 cuttings ; such offers he could 

 not well refuse, and the purchasers thanked him be- 

 sides ! 



M. PIOLA also stated that his Othellos were prosper- 

 pering ; 300 vines, the third summer, gave him 200 

 litres wine. Some consider the Othello wine the most 

 remarkable of American wines ; that it is destined to 

 take the place of the Malbec in the Bordelais ; others 

 say that the wine made of Othello, though at first too 

 acid, becomes very refreshing and agreeable, equal to 

 the best ordinary wines of the lowlands of France. 



M. GAILLAKD states : the Othello succeeds well not- 

 withstanding a little mildew ; the great wine mer- 

 chants compare its wine to the mountain wines. As 

 soon as the young plants could be obtained at 50 fr. 

 the mille, our vintners would not plant 'anything but 

 Othello. M. FOEX and IM THUEN think this variety 

 not yet sufficiently tested ; it commences to fail at the 

 experimental gardens of the former and are weaken- 

 ing at GUIKAUD'S. The very high pi ice paid for them 

 is not justifiable, and caution is advisable. 



Owasso. (Labr.) A chance seedling, supposed to 

 be from the Catawba. Goodhue, the originator of this 

 grape, claims that it combines the following desirable 

 qualities, viz.: hardiness, size, beauty, quality, produc- 

 tiveness, and adaptation to the climate of the northern 

 States. Fruit clusters large and compact ; quality ex- 

 cellent ; has a sprightly taste. A good keeper. Color 

 dark amber. Ripens with the Delaware. Monroe Co. 

 Nurseries. 



Pauline. (JEst.) Syn., BURGUNDY OF GEORGIA, 

 RED LENOIR. A southern grape, of the Lenoir family. 

 Said to be superior for both wine and the table. Of 

 little value here and at the north, where it does not 

 ripen or grow well. Bunch large, long, tapering, shoul- 

 dered ; berries below medium, compact, pale amber or 

 violet with a lilac bloom ; flesh brisk, vinous, sweet 

 and aromatic. " The most delicious grape we have 

 seen." Onderdonk. 



Growth moderate and peculiar ; comes late into 

 bearing ; sometimes sheds a part of its leaves too early. 

 Onderdonk believes it to be a hybrid and not a pure 

 JCstivalis. (See also Bottsi.) 



Pearl. (Rommel's Taylor Seedling No. 10.) 

 A promising new variety both as a table and 

 a wine grape. Bunch larger than his Elvira, 

 shouldered, compact ; berry medium, round, 



pale yellow covered with a delicate bloom; 

 skin thin and transparent ; pulp soft and melt- 

 ing, juicy, sweet and high-flavored. Vine a 

 very strong grower, of short-jointed, grayish 

 wood, with bright green leaves ; very produc- 

 tive, healthy and h'ardy. Ripens immediately 

 after Hartford. 



Peabody, a seedling of Clinton, fruited by Jas. H. 

 Ricketts for about 12 years, but not offered for distri- 

 bution until lately. He says, "it is hardy in vine 

 and fruit ; bunch medium to large and quite com- 

 pact ; berry the size and shape of lona, black with blue 

 bloom ; flesh tender, juicy, rich, and sprightly, The 

 fruit is unlike that of any other grape now cultivated; 

 first-class in every respect." 



Peter Wylie. See Dr. Wylie's New Grapes. 



Pizarro. (Hybr.) One of Ricketts' Clinton seed- 

 lings crossed with foreign (Vinifera) ; foliage resem- 

 bling the Clinton ; productive. Bunch long, rather 

 loose ; berry medium, oblong, black, very juicy and 

 spicy, with a very fine aroma. 



J. H, Ricketts says : " I have fruited the Pizarro 

 many years and thoroughly tested it for wine-making 

 purposes. It makes a light red summer -wine of great 

 richness." 



Planet. (Hybr.) Mentioned by Prof. Husmanrt 

 as one of the foremost of Ricketts' seedlings, otherwise 

 entirely unknown to us. Described in his <k Amer. 

 Grape-growing" as follows: Concord and Black Mus- 

 cat of Alexandria healthy and productive ; bunch 

 large, loose, shouldered ; berry large intermixed with 

 smaller ones which have no seed, oblong, very tender 

 pulp, juicy, sweet, fine flavor with slight taste of the 

 Muscat. 



Pouglifeeepsie-Red. This grape originated by 

 A. J. Caywood & Son, from lona crossed with mixed 

 pollen of Delaware & Walter. It is an admirable grape 

 both for its beauty and fine quality ; and those who 

 have seen it growing at Caywoods' place at Marlboro', 

 N. Y., testify to its vigorous growth. Cluster above 

 medium, compact and well -shouldered ; resembles 

 Delaware more than any other variety, but is about 

 one-third larger, rather darker red with less bloom ;. 

 quality best ; no pulp, melting like lona. Claimed to 

 be very valuable as a wine grape. It ripens very early, 

 with Hartford Prolific, and keeps a long time after 

 being removed from the vine, tasting like raisins when 

 shrivelled. As a dessert fruit, it is considered by good 

 judges as equal to fine European grapes. 



Although known on the Hudson for over twenty 

 years, and exhibited at New York State fairs, it has 

 been but little tested and not disseminated outside. 



Its parentage does not give confidence of success 

 except where the Delaware and lona can be success- 

 fully grown, and that is in localities few and far 

 between. 



Putnam, or Ricketts' Delaware Seedling No. 2. 

 Cross between Delaware and Concord; very early, 

 sweet, rich and good. Must stood 80 Q saccharometer ;. 

 4} per mille acid. Not disseminated, we believe. 



