THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 193 



titles of the Isabella and Catawba for, the table, which 

 are sent to the New York market for sale. 



January 17tb, 1842. — This gentleman wrote an ac- 

 count of his vineyard, for the " Orchardist's Companion," 

 in which he states, " that he has been, for more than ten 

 years, extensively engaged in the cultivation of some of 

 our native grapes." At this time he considered the Isa- 

 bella and Catawba the preferable kinds for cultivation. 

 Under date of February 22d, 1848, he writes me, that he 

 is still of this opinion, and " that he is experimenting 

 with some other varieties, but, at present, I am not pre- 

 pared to give any native vine I have ever tried, a prefer 

 ence. over them. I have twenty acres of these grapes 

 under euccessful cultivation, and am making preparation 

 for putting out four acres more, the coming spring. I 

 plant on the side of hills and level surfaces ; either an- 

 swer equally well in this climate.* The mildew, which 

 was, at a former period, troublesome, has, with the ge- 

 nerally improved character and quality of the fruit, dis- 

 appeared. They do not suffer from the rot, save in con- 

 fined situations, during very warm, rainy seasons. My 

 Isabella grapes, which have improved so much in qua- 

 lity by cultivation, during the past twelve years, mature 

 earlier, and are far less subject to injury from climate or 

 other causes, than formerly. Indeed, an Isabella grape 

 vineyard properly planted, with acclimated vines, and 

 cultivated as they should be, wilf, in this dhnats, give a 

 more certain omnual crop than Indian corn." 



In the communication to the above publication, I find 



♦ Hudson River, State of New York. 

 9 



