28 The Diana Grape. 



The general appearance of the pear is much like the 

 Heathcot, and after eating it we thought it might possibly 

 be that variety, somewhat changed from locality and soil. 

 But the fact that Mr. Hastings had known the tree for forty 

 years, at once sets at rest all doubts on that point. We 

 think it may be safely classed among the best pears, and 

 we feel indebted to Dr. Brinckle for the exertions he has 

 made, to ascertain the above particulars of its history. — Ed. 



Art. V. The Diana Grape. By the Editor. 



One of the greatest fields open to the enthusiastic horti- 

 culturist, is that of the growth of seedlings of our native 

 grapes, with a view to the production of new and superior 

 varieties. In other fruits, numerous new and greatly improv- 

 ed kinds have rewarded the labors of cultivators, while for 

 thirty years, since the introduction of the Isabella and Ca- 

 tawba, scarcely a single grape has been raised of any value, 

 except the Diana which we are now about to notice. 



The Isabella was brought from the South in 1816, and 

 the Catawba was introduced to notice about the same time. 

 From their size, excellence and hardiness, they soon became 

 extensively disseminated throughout the country, taking the 

 place of all other kinds for general cultivation. The foreign 

 grapes, after repeated trials, had been found so uncertain in 

 their crop, and withal requiring protection in winter, that 

 their cultivation was quite given up, except in some of the 

 sheltered gardens of our populous cities ; where, from the 

 more genial climate, and the exemption of the berries from 

 mildew, they have been, and still continue to be, success- 

 fully raised. But although the Isabella and the Catawba 

 have proved such popular varieties, the uncertainty of the 

 crop, particularly of the latter, in most seasons, in the north- 

 ern and eastern states, — as well as the somewhat pulpy char- 

 acter of their flesh, and slight harshness of flavor, compared 

 with the fine foreign kinds, — has prevented them from be- 



