Seedling Grapes by Hybridization. 135 



thing else to no purpose, but that of falling back " ab origine" 

 and taking a fresh start. 



Where an attempt is made to produce a vine of the kind 

 so much wanted, and ripening a superior bunch of fruit, 

 something more must be done than merely changing 7iames, 

 however high sounding these may be. Our operations must 

 be conducted upon correct principles, under favorable cir- 

 cumstances, and with every possible care. We must clearly 

 understand what it is we are aiming at, and bring the matter 

 to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion, ere we may indulge 

 the hope of ultimate success, or lead others to believe that 

 we have accomplished any thing more than those who have 

 preceded us. 



With every facility for bringing about a most important 

 result, we have succeeded in fertilizing the Black Hamburgh 

 with the pollen of the Isabella, and so guarding our opera- 

 tions from first to last, as to obviate the possibility of any 

 mistake. The bunch of grapes ripened to perfection, were 

 of great size, and most delicious flavor. From the seed thiis 

 obtained, we have now about a dozen plants in perfect 

 health, and remarkably handsome looking. The leaves are 

 beautifully shaped, of a bright green, ^vA very deeply serrated. 

 Many of our friends have seen them, and by several they 

 have been immediately noticed as peculiar in their appear- 

 ance. To say at this stage of our proceedings what may be 

 the properties of these vines as fruiting plants cannot be 

 deemed too much in advance of a fair calculation, based 

 upon the known qualities of their parents, the one for its 

 hardiness and strong growth, the other for its superb fruit. 

 They may, and in all probability will be, as good as the Isa- 

 bella for such qualities as are in its favor, and bear fruit 

 though perhaps not fully equal to the Hamburgh, yet as far 

 superior to the male parent, as that is to the common Fox 

 grape. Should this turn out to be so, (and we think it will,) 

 the point at which we have been long aiming will have been 

 attained, and a vine possessing every desirable quality put 

 within the reach of all for general cultivation. 



We shall take care to ascertain all particulars as soon as 

 practicable, and make them known when we are satisfied 

 fully of their perfect correctness ; not speculating carelessly 



