DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 181 



to pick the berries to eat. These faults conced- 

 ed, it still remains a delicious grape. It has 

 performed the great and invaluable office of 

 educating the American taste up to the stand- 

 ard of European kinds; it has at least done 

 this with a portion of the public, and prepared 

 others for a truer appreciation of real excel- 

 lence in the grape. The mass are already begin- 

 ning to perceive the difference between a grape 

 that must be shot down with closed eyes and 

 wide open mouth, and one that may be deliber- 

 ately eaten as food. 



IONA. 



The lona originated with Dr. C. W. Grant, 

 of lona Island, N. Y. The vine is hardy, a 

 vigorous grower, and yields readily to treat- 

 ment. The bunch is large, moderately com- 

 pact, and distinctly double shouldered or 

 winged. The color is a bright claret. The 

 berry is large, round, with a thin skin. The 

 flesh is meaty, melting, and tender all the way 

 through. The juice is sugary and sweet, spirited 

 and vinous, with a pure but delicate muscat 

 flavor. Just after " stoning," the berry becomes 

 so transparent that the seed may be distinctly 

 seen. The flesh is sweet enough to be eaten 

 nearly two weeks before it is perfectly ripe. 



