256 



THE POMOLOGIST AND GARDENER. 



1871 



fusion, unless he should study the nature and hab- 

 its of the vine, and the circumstances surrounding 

 the various modes recommended. Our common 

 wild grape is much improved both in growth, size, 

 and flavor of fruit by domestication. But after all, 

 I do not think that grape growing is attended with 

 so much mystery as some of our grape growers 

 would have it appear, and yet I would not turn out 

 the vineyard to grass, weeds, hogs, cows, goats, 

 trees, &c. 



What we Should Require In all New Varieties 

 of Grapes. 



As to the characteristics which this society should 

 require in all grapes seeking public favors : In my 

 judgment, the first and most indispensable requisite 

 — the foundation, without which no useful result 

 can be reached— must be a healthy, hard and vig- 

 orous vine. Secondary to this, I would place pro- 

 ducliventss; ne.xt fine flavor, size and quality. Do 

 not think I underrate fine quality. I appreciate it 

 most highly; but only admit its highest value when 

 united with a hardy and healthy vine. What mat- 

 ters it how good a grape may be if it cannot be 

 successfully grown ? After an experience of near 

 twenty years in growing seedlings and hybrids, I 

 assert that there is no difficulty in producing grapes 

 of the highest quality. But to produce such grapes 

 upon perfectly hardy and healthy vines — capable 

 of resisting severe cold and oidium, or mildew of 

 the foliage — is a diflerent matter, and a work 

 worthy a life-long effort. The present depression 

 in grape-growing interests, and the evident distrust 

 of the public, especially of new varieties, I believe 

 to be due in a large degree to the persistent and 

 unscrupulous recommendation of grapes that have 

 only the one characteristic of good quality of the 

 fruit in their favor. Whoever wants grapes of this 

 character may find plenty of them in the foreign 

 varieties — grapes which in their exquisite flavor 

 and deUcaey leave nothing to be desired. But, un- 

 fortunately, they cannot be successfully grown in 

 our changeable and capriciuos climate without ex- 

 pensive glass structures, and the most careful and 

 skillful management. Many of the new grapes 

 introduced as seedlings and hybrids have been 

 found little better suited to popular use than the 

 foreign kinds, simply because the vines were de- 

 ficient in health of foliage and hardy constitution. 



Since the introduction of the Concord, I know 

 of 10 new variety superior to it in quality that has 

 been found its equal in hardiness and absolute 

 healtli and vigor of vine unless it be the Martha. 

 And since the appearance of the Delaware, no 

 grape of equal quality and hardiness, with better 

 and healthier foliage, has been introduced. Now, 

 I see no useful purpose to the public in multiplying 

 new varieties, unless they are in some important 



respects better than those we have already. If we 

 could produce a grape equal to the lona, or the 

 good old Catawba, borne upon a vine as healthy as 

 the Concord, and ripening its fruit as early and as 

 promptly as the Delaware, we should have prog- 

 ress in grape-culture worthy ot the name. Or if 

 we could produce a grape with all the good quali- 

 ties of the Delaware, having heavier and more en- 

 during foliage, capable of resisting mildew, we 

 recognize at once a result the value of which could 

 hardly be estimated. The hope of producing some 

 such result has induced me to persevere through 

 long years of discouraging and disappointing ex- 

 perience ; and the determination to be satisfied with 

 nothing less, has prevented me from offering any 

 of my productions to the people. I can yet only 

 announce that I am still experimenting ; and still 

 hopeful. The principal point, however, which I 

 wish to enforce by these remarks is this : However 

 good a grape may be, unless borne upon a hardy and 

 healthy vine, it is of little value to the American 

 grape-growers, and should not he recommended by 

 this, or any other .society, for general cultivation. 

 I will further add that, in my judgment, no new 

 variety not superior in quality to Concord or Hart- 

 ford prolific should be tolerated, whatever its 

 other recommendations may be. — G. W. Campbell. 



A Fact In Grape Culture Important. 



Here we would mention a fact which has come 

 within our observation and experience, which, if 

 generally true, is of some importance. It is this: 

 That the third fruit bud from the base of the past 

 year's cane throws out larger and better developed 

 bunches of grapes than either the first or second. 

 The grapes from these buds seem also better flavor- 

 ed, and generally superior to those on the first and 

 second. In accordance with this hint we have 

 adopted the plan of cutting the cane at such length 

 as to leave the third bud, generally, and sometimes 

 the fourth, when a good strong one, and then rub- 

 bing off the first and second buds, and leaving the 

 third and fourth for fruit. 



The number of fruit buds left on any vine must 

 depend on the age and strength of the vine. If the 

 vines are strong and vigorous, at three years, from 

 two to three bunches of grapes may be allowed to 

 mature on each, without injury. The next year 

 the number may be increased, and so on increasing 

 the quantity of fruit with the age of the vine. 

 — Pacific Rural Press. 



Toads in Pakis. — In Paris, toads are sold at the 

 rate of two francs fifty centimes per dozen. The 

 dealers keep them in large tubs. Toads are also 

 kept in vineyards, where they devour during the 

 night, millions of insects that escape the pursuit of 

 nocturnal birds. 



