30 The Diana Grape. 



Catawba, we neglected our vines. Two of them were turn- 

 ed out into the ground in the spring of 1846, and they did 

 not again attract any attention till the fall of 1848, when, 

 passing the vine after the leaves had partly fallen, we 

 discovered a few straggling clusters of grapes. Naturally 

 curious to know whether the variety was as fine as we 

 originally esteemed it, we tasted some of the berries, and, to 

 our great surprise, we found them perfectly delicious, far 

 excelling the Catawba. We then regretted that we should 

 not have earlier ascertained, and made known, its great 

 merits. Last fall we had a full crop of fine large clusters, 

 ripe fully a week before the Isabella, and so superior to 

 that variety that they obtained the prize of the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society, as the finest native grape. 



Upon our application to Mrs. Crehore, for some account of 

 the origin of the Diana, we received the following communi- 

 cation : — 



Dear Sir, — My mother, (Mrs. Crehore,) having received 

 a letter from you, asking for some information in regard to 

 the " Diana Grape," she wishes me to give you some account 

 of it. I do not know that I can give you much information 

 which will be interesting, but I will try to answer the ques- 

 tions which you ask in regard to it. In the first place, the 

 Diana is without doubt a seedling from the Cataicha, though 

 possibly it may not be. In the fall of 1831 or '32, my mother 

 received some grapes from the late Squire Seaver, of Rox- 

 bury ; they were so fine, that she (not then knowing but the 

 seeds of grapes would produce the same variety,) planted 

 some of the seeds the following spring. Only one seed 

 vegetated, and that did not come up till late in the season. 

 In 1834, being about making some alterations about the 

 house, the vine standing very near it, and being in the way, 

 it was removed to its present location. 



At the time of its removal it was about three feet high. 

 Standing where it was sometimes exposed to the depredation 

 of cattle, and not receiving much (or any) attention, it grew 

 very slowly, and did not bear any fruit till 1838 ; it was then 



