1878.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTGRIST, 
4-21 
A New Hardy Grape—The “Highland.” 
The history of American grape culture presents 
nothing so remarkable as the success of Mr. J. H. 
Ricketts, of Nevvburg, N. Y., in producing new 
seedlings. Mr. R. began a number of years ago to 
raise seedlings from our best native grapes, and 
also to hybridize our natives with different varie¬ 
ties of the European vine. The result has been 
astonishing,—indeed we may say embarrassing, 
for what can be a more unpleasant position than 
that of Mr. R. who finds himself with—if we mis¬ 
take not—over 60 varieties, not oue of which is too 
poor to keep, while the world has no place for them 
all. If ever one was overwhelmed by success it is 
Mr. Ricketts. Some few of his varieties are already 
in the hands of the nurserymen, and others, no 
doubt, will in time find their way into the trade. In 
former years we have given an account of some of 
these grapes as examined in Mr. Ricketts’ garden, 
and as they have appeared from the liberal speci¬ 
mens with which we have been favored. It can 
not be expected that all these new varieties will be 
suited to general culture, or that they will all be¬ 
have as well every where as they do on the ground 
thing remarkable, and Messrs. H. assert its perfect 
hardiness in their grounds. Good foliage and free 
growth we must have in any grape destined to be 
popular, whatever its fruit may be. We wish grape 
growing to be more universal than it even now is ; 
people in general will not coddle and care for a 
vine that is not perfectly hardy and healthy. In all 
pulp; the flavor rich and delicious ; the skin is 
without acrid taste, and, while thin, is apparently 
sufficiently firm to allow of transportation. We 
shall look with interest upon the future of this 
grape, and hope it may equal its present promise. 
We hope that some plan may be devised, by which 
the choicest of Mr. Ricketts’ grapes may be made 
accessable to cultivators, and at the same time 
bring him proper remuneration for his labors. 
They are too fine to be kept in private hands. 
-- 
Horticultural Absurdities. 
The tendency to excess is not peculiarly Ameri¬ 
can ; bedding in figures with flowers and colored 
leaves has been carried so far in England that it is 
ridiculed as “floral fireworks,” and the floral deco¬ 
ration of the dinner table has reached a point where 
it has called forth vigorous protests from English¬ 
men who insist that, however it may be with roast- 
beef and plum-pudding, roast-beef and posies 
“ don’t go together.” But we need not go to Eng- 
| land for examples of horticultural excess—our 
I American tendency to what is expressed in the slang 
of the day as “ running things into the ground,” 
manifests itself in our gardening as well as in other 
matters. Last year we mentioned Forest Hill 
Cemetery, near (if not now in) Boston, as affording 
examples of very neat bedding designs ; a visit to 
the grounds this year shows some of quite an op- 
1 posite character. The amount of bedding there is 
where they originated ; were they to 
do this, it would be even a greater 
wonder than their general superior 
quality now is. Still we have every 
reason to expect that a sufficient pro¬ 
portion will stand the test of general 
cultivation to add a considerable 
number of new varieties to our 
present long list—varieties, too, vast¬ 
ly superior in quality to any we now 
have in cultivation. Several of Mr. 
Ricketts' varieties were purchased a 
few years ago, by Messrs. A. Hance 
& Son., Red Bank N. J., with the 
intention of offering them in their 
catalogue after they had been proper¬ 
ly tested. Those who know the cau¬ 
tion of Messrs. Hance in respect to 
new fruits, need not be told that in 
offering one of these grapes this fall, 
they have good reason to think it 
suited to general culture. The only 
one of the half dozen or more 
varieties purchased of Mr. Ricketts’ that they yet 
offer, is the “ Highland.” This is a hybrid between 
the “Concord” and “Jura Muscat,” and was 
formerly known in Mr. R.’s collection as No. 13 B., 
under which number it has in former years been 
exhibited and commented upon. In foliage and 
growth of vine it resembles the Concord ; one well 
known grape-grower, in whose hands the Messrs. 
Hance had placed the “Highland” for trial, re¬ 
cently informed us that its vigor of vine was some- 
our articles 
on grape cul¬ 
ture we have 
not advised 
planting the 
best varieties 
we knew of, 
but the best 
that will be 
sure to give 
them grapes. 
In respect to 
health and 
hardiness, we 
are well satis¬ 
fied with the testimony as to the “ Highland.” The 
bunch and berry are shown of full size in the engrav¬ 
ing, which is from a drawing after exact measure¬ 
ment by Mr. T. P. Pope, of Newburgh, an artist well 
known for his accurate and life-like paintings of 
fruit. The heavy shouldered bunch is characteristic 
of the “Highland,” and the evenness in the size 
of the berries is also an excellent feature. The 
color is black, with a bluish shade, and there is an 
abundant but delicate bloom ; there is no hard 
A NEW GRAPE—THE “ HIGHLAND. 
