DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. — 51 
but some think it superior in quality, and it has 
usually suffered less from rot. Its berries hold 
well, and its thick skin enables it to withstand 
changes of temperature better; hence the Diana 
improves by being left upon the vine until after 
pretty severe frost. As a variety for packing 
and keeping, it hasno superior. astern grape 
growers claim it to be valuable also for wine. 
ge 88 to 90°; acid 12. 
—s or Charles Downing. A Hybrid ob- 
liad by Jas. H. Ricketts, Newburgh, N. Y., from 
the Croton fertilized by Black Hamburgh. ‘+ Psion 
large, sometimes shouldered; berries large, slightly 
oval, nearly black with light bloom, flesh tender, 
breaking somewhat like the foreign sorts ; in flavor it 
is first rate, being sweet, with just enough sprightli- 
ness to pins uae the palate.’’—Fuller 
is said to be a vigorous sombre with healthy 
foliage. ae parents paieas the reve 
Dracut Amber. (Zabdr.) Graiied by 
J. W. Manning, Dracut, Mass. Vine very vig- 
orous. Regarded by us as but a slightly im- 
proved wild fox grape; very early and produc- 
tive; bunch large and long, compact, often 
shouldered ; berries large, round; skin thick, of 
pale red color, pulpy and foxy; too foxy for our 
n new 
varieties, quite similar, and but very little, if 
any better, are continually introduced. (8S 
hie Re g 
rly Hi nm, (?) an early, round, black gs 
of little villas peed as a curiosity, inasmuch as som 
of the berries contain no seed.— ing. 
Elsinburgh. Syn. Evsrysoro, Smart’s Ex- 
SINBOROUGH. (4st.) Supposed to have orig- 
inated in Elsinburgh, Salem county, N. J. An 
excellent amateur grape, of fine quality; ripens 
early. Bunches medium to large, rather loose, 
without pulp, sweet, vinous. 
five-lobed, dark green, smooth; wood long 
jointed and slender. Subject to mildew. 
Elizabeth, (Zabr.) originated on the farm of mio 
Y., and deseri oe 
Rural New Yorker. Bunches large, compact; 
large, roundish oval, greenish white, ane a purple 
tinge in thesun. Flesh rather pulpy, acid. 
Elvira, a seedling from Taylor, raised by 
Jacob Rowen of Missouri, considered the 
most promising new white wine grape we now 
have. The chromo lithograph accompanying 
the title page was made from a photograph of a 
medium cluster, from the original vine, for this 
Catalogue. Bunch medium, shouldered, very 
compact; berry medium, considerably larger 
than Taylor, its parent, round, pale green with 
white bloom, sometimes tinged with red streaks 
when fully ripe; skin very thin, transparent; 
it sets so very closely and the skin is so thin as 
cause some of the berries to crack; pulp 
sweet, very tender and juicy, fine fisvor. Ri- 
pens about ten days later than Concord. Vine 
a most vigorous, stocky grower, eminently pro- 
tion. Roots like those of Clinton and Taylor, 
promising to possess the same indemnity from 
Phylloxera. Canes stout and long with well 
developed laterals. Wood harder than the Tay- 
lor, with a medium pith. Foliage large and 
strong, firmer in texture than the leaves of its 
parent, the Taylor; somewhat rusty and woolly 
on the lower side; leading us to consider this 
variety as the offspring of an accidental inter- | 
mingling of two species, the Riparia aud La- 
bruse 
a. 
Mr. Herman Jaeger, a careful observer and 
very intelligent grape grower of Southwest 
Missouri, justly says (after a visit to Mr. Rom- 
mel’s vineyard): ‘*The Elvira has all the good 
qualities of its parent, the Taylor, and is en- 
tirely free from the drawback of that variety— 
small scattering bunches and poor bearing qual- 
ities. The original Elvira vine bears again 
(1874) an immense crop; four and five bunches 
ied 
from one bud is the general rule; they are very 
compact, and bunch and berry are about twice as 
large asthe finest Taylorleversaw. The foliage 
of the Elvira plainly shows its origin, though it is 
much larger and more beautiful than that of the 
Taylor. On the lower side of the leaf a slight 
approach to the fox grape is perceptible.” 
The Elvira will make an excellent white 
wine, resembling hock; this is not merely the 
expectation of Mr. Rommel, but of others, in- 
cluding ourselves. Mr. Jaeger, who has no 
pecuniary interest in this grape, wrote to S. 
Miller (Colm. Rural World): ‘‘In your locality 
and further north the Elvira, for the production 
ofa fine hock wine, is entirely without a rival.” 
Being easily propagated from cuttings, the 
Elvira will soon be extensively tested, and, we 
believe it will become one of the leading, nay 
the leading white wine grape of the Middle 
tates. 
Essex, (Roger’s Hybrid No. 41.) Bunch of 
medium size, compact, shouldered; berry very 
large, black, somewhat flattened, in this respect 
resembling the native parent; flesh tender and 
sweet, with a high aromatic flavor; ripens 
early; vine vigorous, healthy, and prolific. 
