822 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



Shurtleff^s Seedling. — ^The description of this grape is 

 in the words of Dr. Shurtleff, who furnished the account, 

 at my request, for this purpose. A gentleman who 

 fruited this last year, represented it as being very good. 



" It came up in my garden in Brookline, in 1837. The 

 plant was of a delicate and slow growth ; it fruited on the 

 fourth year, aud, on the fifth, it bore about four quarts of 

 grapes of superior flavor ; and the berry was of a good 

 size, perfectly round, about the size of a Muscadine; the 

 bunches of moderate bigness, and well set {unlike the wild 

 fox grape) ; the stem pressed out like the Isabella ; the 

 color black, with a peculiar ray, like the spokes of a wheel, 

 running from the stem to the eye of a lighter shade, the 

 whole grape covered with a bloom ; it puts out two or 

 three weeks later than the Isabella, and ripens two or 

 three weeks earlier. The vine is a small grower, and 

 lives with me without protection ; it is situated on a 

 southeast-angle of my house. The third year of bearing, 

 it was, unfortunately, split near the ground, and the pros- 

 pect of a good crop blasted. I have several young vines 

 which will probably bear this year. The fruit is free from 

 any foxy taste or pulp. I think it far superior to any 

 native grape that I have seen. I do not know from what 

 seed it originated, whether from native or imported ; it 



tion where the sun would strike it iair ; the south side of a building would 

 be preferable, and, if the soil is rich, I think it will do as well without ma- 

 nure as with it. I believe the dryer the soil, the sweeter will be the fruit. 



" A vine which was cultivated from a plant from my garden, four years 

 ago, bore profusely last season, and flourishes beyond calculation ; it is 

 placed on the south side of a house, and forma an arbor to the entrance of 

 two tenements. 



" In great haste, dear sir, I believe T have answered your inquiries. 



" Henbt E. ©age." 



