108 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. , 



The foUov.'injj are the reasons given by Mr. Campbell, why he does not 

 indorse the Adirondac: 



" This grape has now been offered to Ihe public for two or three years, 

 and somebody not specially interested in disposing of the plants at high 

 prices, ought to be able to give a little more information in regard to it, 

 than has yet been vouchsafed by its introducers. 



Having invested over $200 dollars in the purchase of vines of this variety 

 from Mr. Baily, and others, it has been my desire, as it certaiidy is to my 

 interest, that the Adirondac f-hould prove all that is claimed for it, but I 

 am compelled to say, that in some important respects it has not met ray 

 expectations; and that my impressions as to its value, especially for gen- 

 eral cultivation, arc not favorable. 



" 1 procured the first plants (grown under glass), of this variety, in the 

 spring of 1862; cu: them back to one eye, and plar.trd them carefully. 

 The few ej'cs which I took off I grafted upon some thrift}' young vines of 

 the Taylor, and placed them in 6-inch pots on a propagating bed, all of 

 which grew promptly, and as soon as they were well started, I removed 

 them to open ground, where they made growth nearly equal to the original 

 plants. In the fall I cut them all back to about three inches, covered them 

 with fallen leaves, and over these, mou-ids of earth from four to six inches 

 thick. They were planted upon high sloping ground, where water never 

 stands, and I regarded their ])rotection as pei'fect. In the spring, upon 

 uncovering tiieni, I found all the buds killed down to the collar lu^ar the 

 roots, on the original plants, and a part of those grafted killed outright, 

 though the point where they were worked was an inch or two below the 

 natural surface of the ground. 



■" Protected in the same wa^', Rebeccas were wholly uninjured; and those 

 left nnprotected, were not injured as badly as the Adirondacs which were 

 carefully covered. This is to me c(uiclusive evidence that it is vot hardy, 

 and in consequence not suited to general culture. The Adirondac is better 

 covered with foliage than the Rebecca, and in open ground this season it 

 has shown rather less tendency to mildew than the latter variety. From 

 its foliage and general characteristics of growth, I juflge the Adirondac to 

 be an Isabella seedling; and though apparentl}' much less hardy, may be an 

 improveinent in quality upon its parent; bnt I do not C(Uisidcr this well 

 established. Most perscuis have doubtless observed that Isabella grapes 

 grown in warm aiul sheltered hjcalities, and otherwise well cared for, ac- 

 quire a size and flavor greatly superior to those grown carelessly and in 

 open exposure. I have seen them tiius grown that I hardly recognized; 

 and which, without explanation, might easily pass for a new and improved 

 variety. 



"As to the (piality of the fruit of the Adirondac, I have no kiujwledgc 

 excei)t that derived from reports i>f committees, and from others wlio have 

 seen and tested it. So far as I know, it has not yet fiuited, except in its 

 original locality, on the baid<:s of Lake Champlain, in Ess(,>x counly, N. Y. 

 The vine is ncnir, or at the base of a semi-circular range of iiills some 200 

 feet high, sU)ping south, and sheltering it perfectly, — the valley opening 

 only s.mthwani. At New York, last fall, and at Cleveland, it is but reason- 

 able to sui)pose the fruit shown was " got up" specially ftr exhibition. At 



