GRAPES IN FLORIDA— NEH- AND OLD VARIETIES. 



393 



the wine may be occasionally "stretched." But as the 

 Ohio law now compels that all pure wines shall be plainly 

 marked upon the package, with the word "pure," one 

 who exercises reasonable caution need not fear that he 

 will obtain anything besides a pure and wholesome fruit 

 juice when buying these products. 



Of the beauty of the island I have said little, and in- 

 deed I could do it but poor justice. The vineyards 

 are the island's first glory ; and from a slight emi- 

 nence near its center, one can see at a glance almost 

 the whole twelve hundred acres, a wonderful example 

 of the bountiful richness of mother earth. There 

 are few things in nature which appeal to the sentiment 

 as a vineyard does. From the earth, through the vine, 

 comes food and drink ; the eye is pleased with the colors 

 of fruit and foliage, and the rich bouquet of wine pleases 

 still another sense. 



From this prospect we turn to another, as different as 

 night is from day. On the left of this fertile expanse 

 are the bare walls and basin of a great quarry from which 

 men dig stone, that houses may be builded. It seems a 

 gross, coarse occupation beside that of cultivating the 

 vine. But men must have houses to live even more than 

 wine to drink ! Then looking further afield we come 



to the third occupation of these island dwellers — that 

 which calls men to go down to the sea in ships. This is 

 a stranger contrast still, from the gentle arts of the soil, 

 to the turmoil and danger of the lake. Erie's surface 

 lies calm enough now, but let the winds blow and she 

 can rage like a lion. At the wharf I see a sunken schoon- 

 er. Her masts and bowsprit show, but all else is covered ; 

 she has " made port " in a double sense, and as the 

 waves beat over her and against the shore, they empha- 

 size the difference between the callings of men. Happy 

 is he whose lot it is to spend his days in such a spot, 

 peacefully and contentedly pursuing those arts "which 

 doth mend nature. " ' ' Bosomed deep in vines, " he may 

 care little how the world wags without. At night, after 

 a day among the vineyards, I strolled along the beach 

 while an eager, rippling wind blew fresh in my face. 

 Ten days before, I had breathed the soft airs from the 

 Mexican Gulf, while at my back were the vineyards of 

 Scuppernong and gnarled fig trees. And I could not but 

 meditate on the boundless choice that our broad land 

 affords to all who would cultivate the earth and gather 

 the fruits thereof. And as I meditated, "more the 

 wonder grew " that men do not more avail themselves of 

 these abundant opportunities. Jas. K. Reeve. 



GRAPES IN FLORIDA— NEW AND OLD VARIETIES. 



WILL GIVE the results of my 

 observations in regard to grapes 

 during the last two years, that 

 is, since I published my little 

 treatise on " Grape Growing and 

 Wine Making in Florida." Dur- 

 ing that period, several hundred 

 acres have been planted in grapes, consisting mostly 

 of market varieties, among which Niagara entered 

 for about two-thirds, Ives, Delaware and White 

 Diamond forming nearly all the balance. 



In our southern counties Niagara is said to hold its 

 own, while in our clay soil of middle Florida it already 

 shows signs ot decline. This, however, may be attrib- 

 uted to the fact that Niagara vines seem to have suffered 

 more from the frosts of last year and this year than al- 

 most any other variety. 



We had this year, growing side by side, Worden, Niag- 

 ara, Ives and Elvira, all one-year-old plants set out in 

 the latter part of February, and having made about the 

 same growth when this April frost came. Worden vines 

 were all frozen to the ground, two-thirds of the Niagaras 

 badly injured, Ives and Elvira hardly touched at all- 

 Of course, I do not infer that we should not plant any 

 Niagaras or Wordens. I try simply to explain the weak- 

 ness of our old Niagara vines. All wood from such sick- 

 ly vines ought to be discarded by the propagator. Sound 

 wood from a healthy vine only, will make a healthy plant. 



New Varieties. — Among the multitude of new grapes 

 lately introduced, I will only mention those having al- 



ready acquired a certain notoriety. In my praise of 

 some and criticism or disparagement of the others, I 

 want it understood that I am guided solely by my wishes 

 to see the grape industry prosper in Florida. 



Eaton. — Introduced a few years ago. On our grounds 

 Eaton does not seem to be as strong a grower as Con- 

 cord. In Florida, on account of our long distance from 

 markets, it will never be but an amateur grape, although 

 as such, it should be in the collection of all grape 

 growers. 



Green Moniitaiji. — This grape has been advertised ex- 

 tensively, and we all know that eulogistic editorials gen- 

 erally accompany well-paid advertisements. I had never 

 seen the Green Mountain vine before I set out a dozen 

 plants this spring ; but I happened to see the fruit once, 

 and it was far from looking like a hot-house grape ! The 

 bunches were long and straggling, the berries hardly 

 medium, and of a dull green color. I was taken to 

 task by interested parties, through an editorial in 

 a New York trade journal for not admiring their new 

 production, and accused of being "afraid of the com- 

 petition of this early and delicious grape." Now, I 

 I claim for each nurseryman the right of expressing his 

 opinion in regard to the quality and beauty of a fruit or 

 vigor of a plant, just as he sees it, and not through the 

 originator's eyes. 



Some Green Mountain grape vines have been planted 

 this season throughout the state ; let us see how early and 

 productive they prove to be, and how they compare with 

 White Diamond and Niagara in quality and market 

 value. In two years from now we will be better pre- 



