184 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
GROUP OF PLANTS WITH ORNAMEiStTAL F O h I A G 'E . — Designed and Engraved for the American ABriculturisl. 
ing as higli as one and oue-balf pounds. Bundl- 
es and berries very large. Ripens a little before 
Isabella. Qnalitj' ordinary, or lilie Isabella. 
Strong grower. Not very hardy. Should be 
laid down and covered in Winter, and, let me 
add here, that were all of our varieties laid down 
and covered in Autumn it would be found to well 
repay the cost and trouble of so doing. You 
thus ensure a crop of grapes for next 3'eai' — no 
buds are frozen. They all start uniformlj' in the 
Spring, and the fruit will ripen a few days 
earlier. This has been my experience. I cover 
all my vines without regard to the variety. 
Selection op Vakieties. — Jly experience 
witli llie above-mentioned varieties, and a large 
number of others not named in this article, that 
I have under cultivation is, were I to select six 
varieties for this locality, I should name lona, 
Diana, Delaware, Israella, Rogers' Hybrid No. 
19, and Allen's Hybrid. loua, Diana and Dela- 
ware for wine and table ; Israella and Rogers' 
Hybrid No. 19, for early marketing, and Allen's 
Hybrid as best white grape for table. Should I 
be confined to three varieties I would name 
loua and Diana for wine, table and long keep- 
ing ; and Israella for best early grape, of good 
quality, for table and long keeping. 
Cultivators shot^ld bear in mind that it takes 
no more ground nor costs any more trouble 
to cultivate good varieties than poor, worthless 
foxy trash, and should be careful in their selec- 
tions, and plant onlj- those of high quality, that 
have proved themselves hardy, productive and 
health)', as fruit produced from such vines will 
always command an extra price and find ready 
sale, when poor, foxy kinds will drag in the 
market and bring a much less price. A few 
dollars extra cost in the purchasing of vines of 
good quality will be found money well invest- 
ed, and better than to plant vines of inferior 
grades and quality at half price. It is better to 
pay agood, fair price for an lona, Diana or Dela- 
ware, than to have a Hartford Prolific, or even 
Concord, given to you, as the one will make 
good wine, in case the market gets glutted, while 
the other will, if tiiey cannot be sold, be a dead 
loss, or, even at best, make good vinegar. It is 
of the utmost importance, therefore, to plant 
only those varieties that, in case they are 
not sold, (which may occur at some time or 
other, judging from the immense quantities 
being planted), they can be made into a good 
article of merchantable wine, that will com- 
mand a ready sale and put money into the 
pockets of its owners. A vineyard, if properly 
planted and taken care of, will last a lifetime. 
Therefore, make a good and judicious selec- 
tion, as on this depends your profits. 
The Decoration of Small Front Yards. 
The Ayriculturist has a large circle of read- 
ers whose landed possessions do not exceed one 
or two city lots, and we like occasionally to 
have an article especially for these. Host of 
them, whether living m city or village, have a 
small space between the house and the street, 
which they wish to turn to the best account, as 
it is constantl}' in view not only of passers by, 
but from the windows of the dwelling. Where 
the soil and situation are favorable, these little 
patches may be kept gay with flowers during 
the whole season, provided a reserve stock of 
plants be kept in pots in the back yard, ready 
to replace those which go out of bloom. We 
have seen these little flower gardens kept up 
very nicely ; but more generally they promise 
well in spring, languish in summer, and by au- 
tumn are sad pictures of desolation. One who 
would keep a place of this kind looking well 
all the season, has to persevere against difiicul- 
ties. The soil is usuallj' poor and shallow, and 
the heat and dust are so destructive to flowers, 
that any but the most ardent enthusiasts are 
too apt to be discouraged and give up in despair. 
Those who wish to give the front yards a 
comely look, and arc unable to have a well kept 
flower bed, will be glad of some suggestions to 
