DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 103 



We place the Delaware second, because it 

 possesses wine qualities in a greater degree 

 than any other native grape, except the lona ; 

 besides, such wine has been made from it in 

 quantity by Mr. Mottier and others as to leave 

 no doubt in regard to its proper place. To 

 our taste, Catawba is a flat wine compared 

 with the Delaware; besides, it is not half as 

 enduring. We find in the Delaware many of 

 the same wine qualities possessed by the lona, 

 but some of them less strongly marked. Just 

 that little fibrous center, and still more the 

 compactness of the bunch, sometimes make 

 the wine slightly imperfect. In good seasons, 

 however, and whenever the fruit ripens per- 

 fectly, these imperfections disappear, and we 

 have a wine of great excellence. The vine 

 is admirably adapted to vineyard culture, 

 being so easily trained. A word of caution, 

 however, may here be added: the vine is 

 strongly disposed to overbear, and generally 

 sets more fruit than should be allowed to 

 remain. In all good seasons the bunches 

 must be thinned out as soon as they set. 



The Diana we have placed third. It makes 

 a wine but little inferior to the Delaware when 

 the fruit is fully ripe ; it is not, however, so 



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