THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 19 



SACKING GRAPES. 

 By FEANK HOLSINGEB, Rosedale. 



I do wish you could see the beautiful grapes we are luxuriating on at thia 

 time. I sacked 700 bunches for home use, being about one- third of my plant at 

 my home. 



Understand, this is in the city limits. We have some seven acres on the 

 farms, away from the influence of the hateful sparrow. 



Soon as the grapes^ commenced coloring myriads of these pests hovered over 

 my grapes, puncturing all that showed color. I hed them cut and sold ere ripen- 

 ing. Those in sacks were immune from their ravages, as also from insects. 



This is especially true of those that were sacked early, when about the size of 

 No. 2 shot. These little bunches seemed lost in the two-pound sacks, but they 

 swelled out, and are now things of beauty. 



I have opened sack after sack without an immature or affected berry, save 

 perchance one that had not fully ripened. 



* I will stick to sacking as long as I live. Would all in our cities who cannot 

 get grapes would try it. 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



Agawam (Rogers's No. 15). Bunch large, moderately compact, and shoul- 

 dered ; berry large, nearly round, dark, dull, reddish brown ; flesh tender, little 

 pulp, very slightly partaking of the foxy aroma; of good vinous flavor. Season 

 medium, or soon after Concord. Vine a strong grower and great bearer, but the 

 fruit is easily affected by rot. [Self-fertile.] (Thomas.) 



Bacchus. Very hard in wood, leaf, and fruit; very productive; bunch com- 

 pact, about six inches long ; berry medium in size, pulp half tender ; juicy and 

 sprightly. (Hart Pioneer Nursery.) 



Barry (Rogers's No. 43). Raised by E. S. Rogers, of Salem, Mass. Vine 

 vigorous, productive; bunch rather large, short, broad, compact, often shoul- 

 dered; berry large, roundish, black; flesh tender, nearly free from pulp, juicy, 

 sweet, pleasant. Ripens about the time of Concord. [Self -sterile.] (Downing.) 



Berkman's. Bunch medium, compact, very round, dark wine color; flesh 

 juicy, vinous, rich ; pulp tender. A cross between Clinton and Delaware. Very 

 good. Ripens September. [Self- fertile.] (Thomas.) 



Brighton. Bunch medium or rather large, shouldered, moderately com- 

 pact; berries full, medium in size, round, dark red or maroon when fully ripe, 

 with a purple bloom; flesh tender, pulp slight, quality very good. Vine a vigor- 

 ous grower, very productive, rather early, valuable. A cross of the Concord and 

 Diana- Hamburg, and one-fourth exotic. (Thomas.) 



Brilliant. Bunch large, conical, shouldered, compact; berry large, round, 

 nearly black; flesh sweet, juicy, rich, vinous; pulp tender. A cross of Delaware 

 upon Findly. Ripens a little earlier than Concord. [Self- fertile.] (Thomas.) 



Campbell's Early. This new, extra-early grape is the strongest-growing 

 vine of thirty varieties in my family collection, even ahead of Concord and Ni- 

 agara. Bunches very large, shouldered, and compact ; extra-large black berries 

 with purple bloom. Good, but not highest quality. Season early, and unques- 

 tionably the very best early grape in existence. ( J. H. Hale.) 



