THE CtJLTtrRE OF THE GRAPE. 239 



other animal manure, they are a richelr table fruit, but 

 with more pulp, and consequently less valuable as a wine 

 grape. The vine is never pruned. It prunes itself. 

 The knife is fatal to it. And, unlike all other grape vines, 

 it will not strike root from a cutting, it being propagated 

 exclusively by layers. The next best grape in this cli- 

 mate, of the natives, is the Elsingburgh, and with this 

 the chapter is complete, for I know of no other worth the 

 trouble of raising. The Isabella is utterly worthless 

 with us ; so is Hyde's Eliza. The Catawba, and Warren 

 grapes, are each better ; but those who have eaten of 

 either the Alaric or Elsingburgh, and especially any of 

 the foreign varieties, would never undertake the culture 

 of the Isabella or Catawba. 



" I have eaten of the best of this fruit raised by Dr. 

 Underbill at Croton Point, near New York, and have 

 come to the conclusion that it is impossible to rid the 

 Isabella of its pulp, and of that wild native flavor it ori- 

 ginally had.* 



" 1 have been compelled necessarily to condense my 

 remarks, but allow me to say in conclusion that I know 

 of no work in this counti-y or Europe in which more 

 valuable suggestions upon the subject of Horticulture, 

 and particularly of the cultivation of the grape vine, are 

 to' be found than in your publication. With my entire 

 library, it has gone to sea, in the gale of 1851. I hope 

 you will supply me with a copy of the new edition. 



* [This gentleman is not partial to the fox flavor of tlie native Americau 

 grape. Many can be found who are, however, and I think this number i? in- 

 creasing, as evidenced by the great sale of this fruit annually, and the im- 

 mense quantities now grown by amateurs for their own use. — Ed.] 



