*tHE CANADIAN nOItTICULTURIST. 21 



NOTES OJ*" SENASQUA AND OTHEE GRAPES. 



BY ALFRED IIOSKINS, TORONTO. 



I see by the December number that the Associatiou propose to 

 give the members a choice from four articles, and amongst them is the 

 Senasqua grape vine. I saw the fruit at the Toronto exhibition, and 

 although it was fine to look at, I was under the impression it was too 

 late to cultivate here, and I think it unwise to attempt growing a 

 grape which ripens after the Concord. Mr. Geo. E. Campbell, of Dele- 

 ware, Ohio, in a report to the Michigan Pomological Society in 1877, 

 used the following language about this vine : " To Mr. Underbill we 

 are indebted for the Croton and Senasquaj which have been for some 

 years before the public. The Senasqua is a large black grape, with 

 fine, compact bunches, and a very high, rich and sprightly flavor when 

 well ripened. It is hardier than the Croton, and with much better 

 folidge. With me certainly as early as the Catawba, and I should 

 expect this grape to succeed fully as well as the Catawba in vineyard 

 culture, and to be valuable both as a fine table grape and for wine. 

 It ripens a little later than Concord." In the vicinity of Toronto and 

 east it would be useless to attempt to grow the Catawba. 



In Bush and Son & Meisener's illustrated catalogue this language 

 is used : " A hybrid raised by Stephen Underbill from Concord and 

 Black Prince. The vine is vigorous and productive in rich soil, and 

 moderately hardy. The originator does not recommend it as a profitable^ 

 grape for market purposes, as it is rather late in ripening, (a few days- 

 after Concord), but only as a fine and amateur fruit." The fruit is alsor 

 said to crack. 



In the December number I also see that a correspondent writes of 

 the Janesville. I have never seen the fruit, but I think it unwise to 

 advocate the propagation of a vine which produces but poor fruit, and 

 whose only excellence is its earliness. Mr. Campbell in the same 

 report speaks of this vine also. He says, " the Janesville is anothei' 

 early black grape, having the merit of being both very early and very 

 hardy; generally healthy and productive. It is only of medium size, 

 and not better than Hartford in quality. It is however earlier, and 

 does not fall easily from the bunch. For northern locations it would 

 have value as a very early ripening hardy grape, notwithstanding it* 

 inferior quality." 



