32 The Diana Grape. 



of finding out the variety. Many persons had tasted the 

 fruit, and thought it very fine, but did not (of course) know 

 the variety ; some said it looked like the Catawba, but did 

 not taste like it ; and others thought it a superior loild grape, 

 though no one, learned in fruit matters, had probably ever 

 seen it till it was exhibited in Boston. When writing about 

 the origin of the Diana, I should have mentioned that I took 

 some of the fruit to Squire Seaver, for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining whether the kind sent to my mother, and the Diana, 

 were the same. It was so many years since the grapes were 

 sent, that the old gentleman could not remember any thing 

 about it, but said no doubt they were the Catawba, as he 

 had never cultivated any other variety. 



You see I have written a long, rambling, and imperfect 

 communication, which you will please excuse. If you can 

 glean any facts from the mass, which will be of use to you, 

 I shall be satisfied. — / am yours respectfully, John A. Cre- 

 HORE, Milton, December 23, 1849. 



Mr. Crehore's letter is so full in regard to all the particu- 

 lars of the origin of the Diana, that we have only to conclude 

 our notice of it with a description of the fruit, which our 

 engraving (fig. 2.) accurately represents: — 



Vine, vigorous, making rather slender wood when young : 

 but growing more rapidly after it has attained age. 



Wood, light brown, rather long-jointed. 



Leaves, similar to the Catawba, without lobes. 



Bunch, medium size, about four inches long, without 

 shoulders : Berries, medium size, round, closely set, forming 

 a compact cluster, of a delicate pale red color, with a grey- 

 ish bloom, not so dark as the Catawba : Flesh, with scarcely 

 any pulp, juicy, rich and vinous, with a high, delicious 

 flavor : Seeds, generally two, rather small. Ripe from a 

 week to ten days before the Isabella. 



It is a most abundant bearer, and has less of the taste pe- 

 culiar to our native grape, than any other variety. It also 

 possesses a peculiarity which we have not noticed in other 

 sorts ; as early as the 1st of September, when the berries 



