DESCRIPTION OF VABIETIES. 



49 



Delaware. Origin unknown. It 

 was found many years since in the gar- 

 den of Paul H. Provost, Frenchtown, 

 Hnnterdon Co., N. J., who had immi- 

 grated from Switzerland, and brought 

 with him many varieties of foreign 

 grapes, which he cultivated in his gar- 

 den. It was first known as the " Italian 

 Wine Grape," then it was supposed to 

 be the "Red Traminer," or a seedling 

 from this variety. We have strong rea- 

 sons to believe it a Hybrid between the 

 V. Labrusca and Vitis Vinifera. 



This variety, first brought to notice by 

 A. Thompson, Delaware, Ohio, is con- 

 sidered to be one of the best, if not the 

 best of all American grapes. Unfortu- 

 nately it does not, from various causes, 

 succeed well in all localities; it should 

 be planted here in deep, rich soil, open 

 and well drained, on northeast and east- 

 ern slopes, and requires good cultivation 

 and pruning to short laterals. Its Roots 

 are slender, and not inclined to branch 

 out much; of medium'^toughness, with a 

 rather soft liber. Canes proportionate, 

 in length and thickness, with an average 

 number of laterals. Wood hard, with a 

 small pith. It is a slow grower. 1450 

 vines may well be planted to the acre, 

 five to six feet being a sufficient dis- 

 tance. Some experiments have lately 

 been made in grafting and inarching the 

 Delaware on the Concord and Clinton 

 stocks, which proved successful. (See 

 " Grafting," in Manual.) The Delaware 

 is exceedingly hardy, enduring the se- 

 verest winters uninjured, if the vines 

 arc healthy. In some localities, as in 

 South-west Missouri and Arkansas, it 

 yields a sure and abundant crop, and is 

 entirely without a rival for the pro- 

 duction of a fine white wine ; in other locali- 

 ties, however, it has been found subject to mil- 

 dew, or leaf blight, and this tendency is great- 

 ly aggravated by allowing the vines to over- 

 bear, which the Delaware is sure to do, if per- 

 mitted. It is very sensitive to Phylloxera. 



Bunch small to medium, compact ; the clusters 

 usually shouldered; berries below medium, 

 round; skin thin, but tenacious; pulp sweet 

 and tender; juice abundant, rich, vinous and 

 sugary, sprightly and refreshing ; color a beau- 

 tiful light red or purplish maroon, covered with 

 a thin whitish bloom, and very translucent. It 

 is without harshness or acidity in its pulp, ex- 



DELAWARE. 



ceedingly sweet, but sprightly, vinous and 

 aromatic. Ripens early, about eight days later 

 than Hartford Prolific. Quality best, for the 

 table* as well as for wine. Must 100 118. 

 Acid 5 to 6 per mill. 



" The must of this grape is generally so rich, 

 and the proportion so evenly balanced, that it 

 will make a first class wine, of great body and 

 fine flavor, without manipulation or addition." 

 Husmann, U. 8. Report of Agriculture, 1867. 



Seedlings from Delaware and its crosses with 

 other varieties are but little known, though in- 

 numerable attempts have been made to raise 

 them. The expectation to produce therefrom a 



