The Diana Grape. 29 



coming general favorites ; and a grape, even if possessing no 

 better qualities than these, but equally hardy, and sufficiently 

 early to mature its fruit with certainty in the New England 

 states, has been a great desideratum. That desideratum, we 

 are glad to say, has now been more than realized in the pro- 

 duction of the Diana. 



The Diana was first brought to notice in our Magazine, 

 and will be found briefly described in our volume for 1844, 

 (X, p. 242.) We had the pleasure of seeing the first speci- 

 mens which were publicly exhibited from the original vine, 

 in 1843, and gave a short account of it at that time, (Vol. IX, 

 p. 432.) But as Ave could not fully judge of its real merits 

 from the inspection of two bunches, we reserved a full notice 

 of it till we could speak more fully in regard to its qualities. 

 This opportunity has not occurred till the past autumn, 

 Avhen we had a fine crop on a vine in our own collection, 

 growing side by side with the Isabella, Catawba, and several 

 other native kinds. 



The Diana, when first exhibited, as will be seen in the 

 interesting letter of Mr. Crehore, which we have the pleas- 

 ure of presenting to our readers, was shown for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the name of the variety ; for although Mrs. 

 Crehore raised the vine from seed. Squire Seaver, of Roxbu- 

 ry, " had no doubt it was the Catawba," and she was natu- 

 rally desirous of ascertaining whether it was in reality that 

 variety ; and we well remember that some of the gentlemen 

 who first saw it, remarked, that though it was ripe so early 

 as the 23d of September, it was doubtful whether it was not 

 the Catawba, only grown in some warm and sheltered local- 

 ity. Its great resemblance to the Catawba favored this im- 

 pression so much, that after an inspection of the original 

 vine, when in fruit, the succeeding year, some of our amateur 

 cultivators were convinced it was only that variety. 



Mrs. Crehore, from the high opinion we had expressed of 

 the variety, and the desire to possess it, kindly sent us a 

 few of the cuttings in the fall of 1843. From them we 

 raised four or five plants, in pots, in the summer of 1844. 

 But from the idea entertained by many, that it was only the 



