180 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



but compact grower, and few kinds yield so 

 readily to treatment. The bunch is small, very 

 compact, (the berries being often compressed in 

 consequence,) and has a small shoulder, very 

 much like a little bunch. The color varies 

 from bright to pale claret. The berry is small, 

 round, with a thin and rather tender skin. The 

 flesh has only a very small fibrous center, but 

 quite sweet when ripe. The juice is sugary 

 and sweet, with a pure, delicate, but spirited 

 vinous flavor. The berry is sweet some time 

 before it is ripe. This sweetness of the 'berry 

 before maturity is characteristic of the Diana, 

 Delaware, and lona. The early ripening and 

 hardy character of the Delaware fit it for gen- 

 eral cultivation. 



The Delaware has taken, and will always 

 maintain, a high rank among American grapes. 

 It was the first to give us a true idea of purity, 

 delicacy, and refinement, almost its only fault, 

 besides its want of size, being its small fibrous 

 center, which prevents it from being tender in 

 all its parts. That little center, however, is 

 sweet when ripe. It must be admitted, also, 

 that the bunch is too compact; so much so, 

 often, as to prevent the interior berries from 

 becoming fully ripe ; it makes it difficult, too, 



