654 



MY GRAPES IN iSgi. 



young leaves are gathered and used for greens. The 

 variety Hiberica Rex has usually but five sepals, and the 

 stems are trailing, with upright leaves. It is common 

 in moist places in northern Japan, and is frequently 

 cultivated in basins for ornament ; but I have never 

 seen it grown as a vegetable, the wild plants being abun- 

 dant enough to supply the demand, 



Lamium amplexicaule, L. ; Jap., Hotoke-tio-za, the 

 plant mentioned on preceding page, is not used except 

 as one of the " seven grasses." It is a small plant be- 

 longing to the Labiatae, about a foot high, with opposite 

 sessile leaves and reddish flowers in whorls in the axils. 



Stellaria media, L. ; Jap., Hnkohe, is likewise a plant 

 used only occasionally as an article of food. 



Acanthopanax spinosum, Miquoig. {A. acitlcatiim, 

 Seem. ; ^ra/z'a Thunb. ); Jap. , Ukogi. This 



is a thorny bush some eight to ten feet high, which is wild 

 in many parts of the country, especially in the north. 

 The leaves are small, palmately five-foliate, and most- 

 ly in clusters like barberry leaves on the short, old 

 branches. On the young shoots there are three prickles 

 below each leaf. The young leaves of this bush are 

 gathered and steamed and eaten as greens; their use is, 

 however, mostly confined to places where it grows in 

 abundance. This plant is also used for hedges. 



Acanthopanax trichodon, Fran, and Sav.; Jap., Mi- 

 ya?}ia-ukog{, a related species likewise common in many 



(to be c 



places, which also has edible leaves. They are steamed 

 before they are eaten, but are not so commonly used as 

 those of the first named species. 



Angelica kiusiana, Maxim.; Jap., Aslti-taba, Hachi- 

 jio-so. There are half a dozen species of Angelica in 

 the country, some of which are cultivated for medicine ; 

 but so far as I have learned, this is the only species that 

 is used for food. The young leaves and shoots are said 

 to be gathered for greens. It grows wild near the sea 

 coast in the south, but is rarely if ever cultivated. It 

 attains a height of some three to five feet, and has a 

 coarse, cylindrical, zigzag stem and large, pinnately 

 compound leaves, with broad-clasping petiole. The 

 branches are terminated by umbels of small, greenish- 

 white flowers, which are succeeded by large, oblong seed 

 vessels. The plant has a thick, yellow juice and a 

 pleasant aromatic smell. 



Amaranthus caudatus, L. ; ]3.'p.,FiiJi-geilo, Suginiori- 

 kei/o, Sen-initi-kokn . A wild plant three to four feet tall, 

 with long lanceolate leaves and small, red flowers. The 

 leaves are used for greens, and it is occasionally culti- 

 vated for that purpose. The seed, also, is gathered and 

 used as a condiment. 



A. melancholicus, L. (tricolor. Lam.); Jap., Ha- 

 geito, Hiyit. Like the preceding, it is sometimes cul- 

 tivated for the leaves and seed, and it is commonly used 

 for ornament. C. C. Georgeson. 



-ITINUED.) 



MY GRAPES IN 1891. 



LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS VEAR'S CROP. 



HERE is always something 

 unexpected in the grape 

 crop. While every other 

 crop except strawberries 

 has been near its maxi- 

 mum, the Oneida county 

 grape crop has been a fail- 

 ure. This was not due to 

 frost, but, apparently, to 

 unripened wood and defec- 

 tive buds. There was no failure in fertilizing in 

 whatever did put out blossoms. The extraordi- 

 nary abundance of plums, peaches, apples and 

 pears makes a shortness in grapes desirable for 

 once. It also brings out a few new facts in the 

 study of grapes that are important and interesting. 

 Some varieties bring out comparatively good points 

 and make us more willing to give them a place in the 

 vineyard. 



This year I have had a few bunches on Empire State 

 that came very near being good. Jessica gave me better 

 bunches than usual, and both have borne fairly well, 

 while nothing hangs on adjacent trellises. But they 

 are not even fairly worthy grapes. Jessica is almost a 



bag of seeds and sugar. Empire State drops from 

 the bunch hopelessly, and also shrivels as soon as ripe. 

 What a pity ! The bunches are long and showy, and 

 full of promise. I can understand why some are very 

 loath to discard it. 



Duchess is giving me a full crop, and so is Gcethe, 

 and so are a few vines of Concord. To my astonish- 

 ment, Worden has nothing for me ; Gsertner the same. 

 Niagara and Diamond have a fair showing. I am quite 

 cured of all dislike for Niagara. Give it high ground, 

 good soil and plenty of sun, and it is as golden as 

 Pocklington and Diamond. Diamond has not for two 

 years ripened as early as I set it down for in 1889. It 

 is not ahead of Niagara, while on old vines the latter is 

 decidedly earlier than I had estimated. Both are 

 superb grapes, ripening thoroughly with me about Sep- 

 tember 20. 



It is not well to plant too heavily of white grapes. I 

 have more trouble with them than with any other fruit. 

 It is impossible to tell, without tasting each bunch, just 

 when exact ripeness is reached. Most buyers prefer a 

 very sweet grape, like Worden, to an acid, like Duchess, 

 Diamond and Niagara. Many will eat Jessica, which 

 has no character but sweetness, and will praise it as de- 

 licious. When planting for market, we cannot consider 

 our own cultivated tastes altogether. . 



