73^ 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT. 



The Vineyard. — Our vines are now in their fourth 

 year from planting, and have borne their second full crop 

 this season. They have again made a vigorous growth 

 of wood, but while perfectly healthy last year, this year 

 many of them have suffered greatly from various forms 

 of mildew and rot. Thorough treatment will now be re- 

 quired to keep these diseases in check, and we intend to 

 prune the vines at once, and burn all wood and ac- 

 cumulated rubbish. In early spring part of the vines, 

 with their trellieses and the ground under them, will be 

 given a thorough drenching with a oneper-cent. solution 

 of crude sulphuric acid ; another part of the vines, etc., 

 a drenching with a solution of sulphate of iron, and still 



joyable, notwithstanding the fact that we know there are 

 other grapes of a higher grade in this respect. Our Con- 

 cords gave us some of the finest clusters we had, and 

 they were eaten with a relish. 



The Delaware gives small clusters and small berries, 

 but it makes up for this by its large number of clusters 

 and comparative freedom from disease. Its " sugar-and- 

 water " quality suits us and other consumers quite well. 

 Of the Niagara little need be said. It is at home in this 

 country, and has found its way into the affections of 

 every grape-grower and eater, far and near. 



"We have said many a good word for the Green-Moun- 

 tain-Winchell grape. After another season's experience 



OF Grape-Clusters 



•Golden. 

 REDUCED TO 



another part of the vineyard, for the sake of comparison, 

 will be left without treatment. Possibly we may try 

 gypsum (sulphate of lime) dusted freely on a few vines. 

 In our comments on varieties we will not go over the 

 whole list again. With most of the leading sorts, last 

 season was only a repetition of our experience in 1891, 

 except in so far as some kinds were greatly injured, if 

 not ruined, by mildew and rot. Thus it was for instance, 

 with the delicious Brighton, which at least attempted to 

 give us a good crop. Most of our labruscas are not 

 yet effected by disease ; the thick-skinned Rogers hy- 

 brids also escaped unharmed. Our last season's fa- 

 vorite. El Dorado, again leads in quality. There is no 

 vine that can compare with it in this respect among the 

 more than 100 varieties on our grounds. But while 

 our vine of El Dorado was heavily laden with fine clus- 

 ters in 1891, it gave us only a meagre crop this year. 

 Nevertheless we deem it worth growing, and willingly 

 forego the advantage of quantity for the sake of enjoy- 

 ing its delicious quality. 



The season's outcome proves once more in an especial- 

 ly striking manner the great value of some of the old 

 standard sorts for general planting. If we were asked 

 which three sorts among all our many varieties, some of 

 them introduced with high claims and great expectations, 

 have shown themselves most suitable for general plant- 

 ing and most indispensable, we would be compelled to 

 name (i) Concord, (2) Delaware, and (3) Niagara. If 

 we plant Concord, we are reasonably sure of perfect 

 fruit, plenty of it and fruit of a quality that is quite en- 



with it we have much to add in itb favor. Indeed we 

 believe the variety is fully as valuable as any of the sorts 

 already mentioned. It appears to be a vigorous grower, 

 free from disease, and a free bearer of handsome clus- 

 ters of good quality. Besides, it ripens earlier than any 

 good grape we have, and it will soon be found as indis- 

 pensable in commercial vineyards as Niagara, Delaware, 

 or even Concord. 



Among other varieties that gave us fair-looking clusters 

 are Grimes' Golden, Eaton and Massasoit. A cluster of 

 each of the four last-named sorts, as grown on our 

 grounds, has been sketched, and is shown in figure 2. 

 Grimes' Golden, which seemed to be rather late last year, 

 came to full maturity this season, and could be eaten 

 with a relish, its flavor being a pleasant subacid. Eaton 

 gives by far the largest berries of any variety in the 

 picture, and fairly good clusters. This, however, is 

 about all that can be said in its favor. It is not quite 

 equal to Concord in quality. Massasoit is enveloped in 

 a thick, tough skin, which renders it suitable for long 

 keeping. Its color is a fine dark red ; the flesh is pulpy, 

 but the flavor is pleasant and sweet. One the whole, we 

 get a large amount of satisfaction out of this experi- 

 mental vineyard. 



Some New Tomatoes. — Our interest in testing new 

 tomatoes has flagged somewhat of late, because we are 

 conscious of having such fine sorts already. Really ex- 

 cellent varieties have been introduced during the last 

 three or four years, and yet we had apparently just as 

 good ones before. No new tomato will be apt to create 



