DESCRIPTION OF VAKIETIES. 179 



garden, and places where shelter and ventila- 

 tion are provided, it is one of the best grapes 

 we have. It ripens nearly three weeks before 

 the Isabella. 



DELAWARE. 



The origin of the Delaware is wrapped in 

 mystery. That it is a native grape, there 

 should be no more doubt than there is in re- 

 gard to the Isabella and Catawba. The leaves 

 on young vines often show the characteristic 

 furziness; but seedlings which we and others 

 have raised from it show the native character 

 in fruit and foliage too broadly to be mistaken. 

 The question of its origin would never have 

 been raised, but for the excellence of its fruit. 

 It was thought to be too refined for a native ; 

 in fact, the native grape had become, in our 

 minds, so almost indissolubly associated with 

 the " fox," that we had learned to recognize a 

 native by its offensive smell and tough center. 

 Happily, the lona, which more than one old 

 grape grower has pronounced to be a Frontig- 

 nan, and which it certainly resembles very 

 closely, has stepped in to spoil the logic of this 

 kind of argument, and we may now claim to 

 have at least three natives free from this offen- 

 sive taint. The Delaware is hardy, a vigorous 



