158 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
vice to them, and prolong their bearing. 
Cauliflowers require a great deal of moisture 
in order to head well during Summer. Now 
is the time to give them a handful of straw, 
to keep the soil around them cool and moist. 
Eggplants and tomatoes are also benefited 
by mulch. Before it is applied the ground 
should be scored deeply with a hoe, so as to 
give opportunity for the circulation of air 
underneath the straw. If weeds and green 
material are used, they must not be put on 
so thickly as to ferment. 
MELON BUGS. 
Under this general name we include any 
and every insect, from the little black, almost 
invisible nit, to the large, yellow striped bug. 
Each year we meet with some new specific 
exterminator of these pests. Now, it is 
quassa, then it is decaying fish, or swabs of 
turpentine, guano, sulphur and pepper, soot 
and ashes, or thumb and finger patiently ap¬ 
plied. To us, it always seemed that the 
sifting of soot, ashes, snuff and pepper, on 
the tender leaf, must injure the leaves, and 
so the health of the plant. Boxes covered 
with millinet have proved very serviceable to 
us for several years. For the last two sea¬ 
sons, we have used a simpler contrivance, 
viz.: a thin sheet of white cotton wadding laid 
over each hill of plants, and confined at the 
corners with small stones. This allows the 
light, heat, air and moisture, to reach the 
plants, but excludes the bugs perfectly. As 
the plants grow, the wadding may be loosen¬ 
ed a little at each corner. 
THE NEWER NATIVE GRAPES. 
In a recent article, entitled “ Grapes vs. 
Dwarf Pears,” we promised to speak, at 
another time, of some of the best hardy 
grapes of recent introduction. That prom¬ 
ise we now purpose to fulfil. 
The Clinton Grape. —This is hardly a new 
grape, yet it is not so widely known as the 
Catawba and Isabella. It is said by some, 
to have originated in Central New-York, in 
a town of that name ; by others, it is traced 
to a garden in Waterford, N. Y.,the pro¬ 
prietor of which named it in honor of Gov. 
Clinton. The vine is perfectly hardy, easily 
propagated, of rapid growth, and is a regu¬ 
lar and prodigious bearer. The clusters and 
berries are not large, both being about two- 
thirds the size of well-grown Isabellas. The 
fruit is round, black, and covered with a 
thin, blue bloom. Flavor somewhat rough 
and acid, especially if eaten before the fruit 
is fully ripe. It matures a fortnight or three 
weeks before the Isabella. Mr. Longworth, 
of Cincinnatti, has experimented with it as 
a wine grape, and speaks of it in favorable 
terms. For northern latitudes, and for per¬ 
sons not fastidious about delicate flavors, it 
is worthy of cultivation. 
The Concord. —This new grape ranks 
much higher than the preceding. It was 
raised from seed about twelve years ago, by 
E. W. Bull, of Concord, Mass., but was not 
offered for sale until it had been fairlv tested 
for several years in his own grounds. We 
understand that this gentleman’s method of 
raising new grapes is as follows : He sows 
a great number of seeds of hardy and ap¬ 
proved sorts, but rejects those which come 
up the first year, because they are generally 
found to be barren. The second Spring, the 
ground is well stirred, and a new crop of 
seedlings springs up from the first sowing, 
among which improved varieties are found. 
In this way, the Concord was obtained. 
As to the qualities of this grape, we see 
no reason to change the opinion we have 
heretofore expressed. It is hardy, of luxu¬ 
riant growth, and the fruit ripens from ten 
days to a fortnight earlier than the Isabella. 
The clusters are large, shouldered ; berries 
large as the Isabella, often larger, nearly 
round, black, with a beautiful blue, plum¬ 
like bloom. We have seen bunches which 
measured 7k inches long, and 5k wide at the 
shoulder, fairly resembling Black Ham¬ 
burgh’s. The berries are sweet, tender, 
juicy, a little foxy, and not quite so deli¬ 
cious and aromatic as the Isabella when 
fully ripe. We rank it in quality a little be¬ 
low the Isabella, but when its superior hard¬ 
iness is taken into account, as well as its 
earlier period of ripening, we think that for 
northern climates it will prove the most 
popular grape. It must become a very 
showy market fruit. Below the latitude of 
Albany or Newburgh, good judges still prefer 
the Isabella and Catawba. 
The Diana. —This is an older variety than 
the Concord, but has not made as great a 
sensation in the horticultural world. It 
originated in the garden of Mrs. Diana Cre- 
hore, of Milton, Mass., and was named after 
her. It is a descendant of the Catawba, 
which it somewhat resembles. 
Respecting the quality of this grape, we 
feel disposed to speak in the strongest terms. 
Bunches, not so long as Catawba, but more 
compact and heavy, not properly shoul¬ 
dered, but the main bunch has often a small 
one appended to it. Berries a little smaller 
than Catawba, and a shade paler in color; 
less pulpy, and more sweet and juicy than 
Catawba. Pomologists in the Southern 
States, who have grown it side by side with 
its parent, prefer it to that very excellent 
grape. The late A. J. Downing called it re¬ 
peatedly, “ the best American grape yet 
originated.” We have fruited it several 
years by the side of many other varieties, 
and in eating from them all, one after 
another, have found ourselves almost un¬ 
consciously giving this the preference. If 
we could have but one native grape, that 
one should be the Diana. 
The Delaware. —The origin of this grape 
seems to be somewhat uncertain. By some, 
it is claimed as a native ; by others, as a 
“ Lisbon wine-grape,” or the Traminer of 
Germany, or the Red Resling. Mr. Thomp¬ 
son, of Delaware, Ohio, understands that it 
was sent more than fifty years ago to a gen¬ 
tleman in New-Jersey, by his brother in 
Italy. If it is a foreigner, its exemption 
from mildew, and its hardiness, are some¬ 
what remarkable. But whether it is a na¬ 
tive American, or an adopted citizen, we 
welcome it as a worthy member of the 
grape family. Cluster small, compact, 
sometimes shouldered. Berries about the 
size of Diana, and round. Skin thin, and of 
a coppery rose color. Pulp, very little. 
Flavor sweet, aromatic, more sprightly than 
the Diana. In our own grounds, it has 
grown somewhat slowly, and has not yet 
borne abundantly. It appears to be per¬ 
fectly hardy, not an inch of young wood 
having been killed by the past two winters. 
Mr. Charles Downing and other equally 
good judges pronounce it one of our best 
hardy grapes. 
The Rebecca. —Here is a new comer, and 
one whose coming has been warmly greeted. 
It is a chance seedling, which sprang up 
about eight years ago, in the garden of Mr. 
E. M. Peake, of Hudson, N. Y. It is per¬ 
fectly hardy, having endured exposure un¬ 
harmed for several years at Hudson, on an 
open trellis. Mr. Hovey gives the following 
description: “ Bunches medium sizefabout 
six inches long, very compact, without 
shoulders. Berries medium size, obovate, 
about three-quarters of an inch in diame¬ 
ter, Skin thin, greenish white, becoming of 
a pale amber color at full maturity, covered 
with a thin white bloom. Flesh very juicy, 
soft and melting, and free from pulp. Fla¬ 
vor rich, sugary, vinous and brisk, with a 
peculiar musky and luscious aroma, distinct 
from any other grape. Seeds small; two to 
four in each berry.” It ripens a week or 
ten days earlier than the Isabella. It won 
prizes last year, at the Exhibitions of seve¬ 
ral State Horticultural Societies, where it 
was pronounced by competent judges, “ su¬ 
perior to the Sweetwater, and equal to the 
Golden Chasselas, or the Muscat of Alexan¬ 
dria.” We have placed a Rebecca vine upon 
our experimental arbor the present season, 
and shall watch it with interest. 
The Canadian Chief. —We have not yet 
seen this grape, but it is highly extolled by 
persons of reliable judgment. It hails, at 
present, from Hamilton, Canada West, and 
is hardy even in that climate, but is sup¬ 
posed to have originated in France. It is a 
white grape, resembling the Sweetwater, 
but with bunches more compact and larger 
than that variety is ever seen in open culti¬ 
vation. We hope to learn more respecting 
it, the coming season. 
Several other varieties of native origin 
are now being tested by committees and 
amateur fruit-growers in various localities, 
some of which will undoubtedly prove 
great acquisitions. Among these we may 
mention the Union Village, Carter, Brinckle, 
Stetson’s No. 1, Graham, Clara, Allen’s Hy¬ 
brid, Emily, Breck’s,Wyman’s Seedling, and 
others. 
The lovers of good fruit have reason to 
congratulate themselves on the introduction 
of so many excellent native grapes. To 
have superior table grapes, it is no longer 
necessary to erect costly glass structures. 
Everybody who has a house or barn, or 
fence with a south side to it, has hot-house 
enough to ripen the grapes of which we 
have spoken above. Indeed, even this is not 
absolutely necessary. Many persons have 
hitherto contented themselves with grapes 
more suitable for rifle-balls than for di 
