830 



leaves, indicate lona, or Adirondae, Delaware may 

 be, or Allen's Hybrid. 



Before the vineyards were planted, no expense 

 was spared to bring the stubborn soil, a stiffish clay 

 loam, in some places largely intermixed with sand- 

 stone, to a fine tilth by twice subsoiling in the Fall 

 and once again in the Spring. At first the vines 

 were set twelve feet distant in rows eight feet apart, 

 but all the later vineyards have been set eight feet 

 by six in the row. It was long before arms could 

 be trained to six feet, and fill the trellis, but the six 

 feet distances were soon occupied with bearing canes. 

 The posts are ingeniously devised. To foot-pieces 

 of enduring timber as locust or cedar, long enough 

 to insert in the ground and project somewhat above 

 it, are nailed uprights of a cheaper sort as oak. 



These are planted about twelve feet apart, and to 

 cross bars attached to the posts at a foot and seven 

 feet from the ground are nailed vertically narrow 

 strips of board nine inches asunder. The method 

 of training is to renew the canes annually upon two 

 horizontal arms of 3 feet each. Willow is used at 

 the first tying, and rye straw afterwards. Summer 

 pruning of medium severity is practised. 



The plow does some slight service spring and fall, 

 but during summer weeds are kept down by culti- 

 vating to a shallow depth — along the rows by the 

 hoe. 



The Concord, of which there are fifteen acres or 

 more in vine and foliage, evidence remarkable vigor 

 and health. Mr. Knox must look well to his 

 market, for he will have a vast harvest of noble 

 clusters. In places there were some slight traces of 

 rot, mostly confined to vines which overbore last 

 season, but the loss will be scarcely appreciable. 

 The Delaware, ranged along side of the stalwart 

 Concords, suffer something by comparison, but are 

 demeaning themselves this year quite handsomely. 

 Though mildew and thrip have wrought mischief 

 among the leaves, there is abundance of foliage to 

 mature the fine growth of wood and the fair yield of 

 fruit. Now, the 26th of August, scattered berries 

 only are well flushed. The Hartford as ever, is in 

 robust health and gratifies the proprietor with a 

 great weight of fruit. It is colored but little yet. 

 This variety induces further planting to the extent 

 of several acres, because every year it is largely pro- 

 fitable — a heavy crop coming in early, no r jt, no 

 mildew, and abundant, well ripened wood. 



The August Pioneer, a great vine, a scanty bearer 

 of large, bl'^ck foxy berries, now being marketed in 

 Pittsburg at fifty cents per pound. 



The Adirondae, though in position for four or five 

 years looks lamentably shabby and shows no fruit, 



or so little as to escape notice. A block of this va- 

 riety nearly stripped of leaves by mildew, stands in 

 striking contrast in the nursery to the Ives, Rentz, 

 Concord and Hartford around them, forming a 

 thicket of branches and leaves. The Alvey, has 

 made fine growth, and curious to say, is well set with 

 quite compact bunches. Wherever this grape can 

 be made to yield annually a good crop, it should be 

 largely cultivated for wine. 



The Clinton is vigorous and productive, though 

 warty excrescences are beginning to crumple the 

 leaves. 



The Creveling has been quite largely planted here. 

 Some years, as last, it has borne a full crop of well- 

 filled branches, but with Mr. Knox, as elsewhere, 

 productiveness is not a habit with it. Yet so early 

 and so good, its cultivation will be extended ; the 

 suggestion of Mr. Merceron being adopted, to plant 

 it alternate with fuller flowering sorts, which may 

 be trained above it. 



The Catawba is loaded with fruit and rotting but 

 slightly. The leaves of this and the Isabella shows 

 some signs of mildew. 



The Diana has a sorry account to give for all the 

 careful culture bestowed upon it. It is rotting 

 badly. So, we may add here, is the To Kalon, the 

 Beautiful, — too often, at harvest, the Desolate. 



The Herbemont is weighty with the coming har- 

 vest. The lona encourages further care. There is 

 a show of mildew, l^ut the older vines promise to 

 carry through a fair crop. Its bunches are much 

 too loose. The Israella has many really handsome 

 bunches and will probably ripen them well, though 

 it sickens one to see the leaves along the row wear- 

 ing a scorched and ruffled air. 



The Martha, a row of ten or fifteen vines in the 

 third year, beside the two just alluded to from mis- 

 chievous intent mayhap, asserts itself nobly. Its 

 foliage, leathery and shining, its great stretch of 

 canes, and its fine crop of fruit, clearly betoken its 

 kinship to the Concord. The bunches are medium 

 size and compact— berries medium. No imperfec- 

 tions of vine or fruit to be seen. 



Of the Roger's Hybrids, after careful survey with 

 Mr. Knox, we concluded the most promising here, 

 at this time, are Nos. 3, 4 and 19. These are per- 

 fectly healthful and productive. Three and four 

 were coloring. Number ] 5 is bearing meagrely and 

 is mildewed. 



The Ives, in considerable numbers, third year, 

 promises all its friends have claimed for it. The 

 vines are as vigorous, healthful and productive as 

 the Hartford. The bunches and berries are good 

 size and now well colored. 



