MARCH 5 
good quality, pure in flavor and wholly free 
from coarseness or offensive odor. TL e clus¬ 
ters are handsome and well-formed, of the size 
of well-grown Clintons; period of ripening 
two weeks before Concord ; foliage of the Lab- 
rusca type; growth strong and vigorous. Clus¬ 
ters hang long on the vine without impaired 
flavor; and berries do not fall. A fair keeper 
after taken from the viue. I do not know 
that it has been offered for sale ; but when it 
is, I believe it may be purchased with entire 
confidence. 
The Brighton, the past season, was very 
satisfactory, and must be classed among the 
best of the red grapes, for quality. It is a 
strong, vigorous grower, very productive, 
beariug handsome clusters of medium-large 
berries of rich and sprightly flavor. The foli¬ 
age is large and not more subject to mildew 
than the hybrids of Rogers. Its only serious 
fault here is its tenderness in Winter, Except 
in mild Winters, it will require protection. 
Herbert, oh Rogers's Hybrid 41, cannot 
be called a new grape; but it deserves renew¬ 
ed attention, and is worthy of more notice 
than it has received ; as it is one of the very 
finest Hack grapes, in all respects, within my 
knowledge. Among the strongest, hardiest, 
and most vigorous in growth of Rogers’s well- 
known hybrids, it is also large in I uuch and 
berry, and early in ripening. In flavor rich- 
sweet aud sprightly; 11 .•sh tender and juicy; 
with no trace of coarseness or fox'mess. I re¬ 
gard it as a first-class black grape, worthy of a 
place in every garden and vineyard. 
The Lady Chape has been largely planted, 
and scarcely needs either description or recom¬ 
mendation. The demand for it has steadily 
increased, and although there has been, iu 
sections, complaints that its growth was not 
satisfactory, it has generally succeeded well, 
and may be regarded as a standard, aud reli¬ 
able early grape of fine quality, specially de¬ 
sirable for home use and near market. From 
its tbin skin and tender flesh, it is not suited 
for distant shipment or rough handling; and 
it is not a long keeper. But the perfect health 
and hardiness of the vine, its productiveness, 
the handsome appearance aud flue quality of 
the fruit aud its extreme earliuess in ripening 
render it more desirable than any other among 
the very early grapes yet introduced. 
The Jefferson, one of Mr. Ricketts's grapes, 
said to be a cross of Concord with Ioua, seems 
j to possess great mer- 
^ it, and certainly to 
/fir be worthy of exten- 
// sive trial. The grape 
[| very closely resem- 
Lies ^ oua * n a P‘ 
pearanee, h av 1 ng long 
aud large caters, 
usually shouldered, 
lo 1 a,ul la rge berries. 
The flavor has much 
°* llje Peculiar rieh- 
ness and sprigbtlmess 
of the Iona, and seem- 
FRENOH K KICKDL1NG , . 
fta. i:t4. ed to me even richer 
and better than that favorite variety. If there 
is no mistake about its parentage, and the v»ue 
proves as hardy and healthy as it is claimed to 
be, it will prove a most valuable acquisition. I 
have not personally tested it sufficiently to say 
more than this, its foliage, so far, has been 
healthy. 
El Dokado, a grape of the same parentage 
as Lady Washington ; and Ilighlatid, a Con 
cord seedling crossed with Jura Muscat, are 
both flue grapes, and from a limited experi¬ 
ence, seem promising as to foliage and habits 
of growth; but further trial will be necessary 
to determine their character accurately. 
I can, in conclusion, only mention briefly a 
few of the many promising seedlings, princi¬ 
pally from the Taylor and its class, which 
have been produced in the Southwest. They 
all seem to have remarkable vigor of growth, 
hardiness and health of foliage with great 
productiveness; and though specially recom¬ 
mended as wine-grapes, some of them will 
doubtless be valuable also for table use. 
Among those most promising are Amber, 
Pearl, Transparent, Uuland, Black Tax 
lor, with several others known only by num¬ 
ber. The above-named were produced by 
Jacob Rommell. 
The Missouri Riesling, and several other 
seedlings of the same character by Nicholas 
Greiu, of Missouri, are there regarded as very 
promising; and there are mauy others con¬ 
stantly appearing, from which it is believed 
the most valuable results will be obtained 
for the vine growers of the country. 
have the temperature of Southern Massachu 
setts during July, August and September. 
These are the months that make the grapes, 
and the early varieties accordingly ripen their 
fruit very well here and to the north and 
west so far as Montreal. But as the vices do 
not start so early in the Spring by about ten 
days, the varieties which are as late as Con¬ 
cord, or later, do not mature their fruit oftener 
than one year in three or four. In the city of 
Montreal the vines start as early as in Massa¬ 
chusetts, and the Concord ripens every year, 
though better some years than others. It 
can hardly be said that Concord, Isabella, 
Iona or Catawba ever reaches complete perfec 
tion anywhere north of Long Island Sound 
and east of the Adirondae Mountains. 
The Delaware Grape is unquestionably the 
best and most successful variety amoug those 
well known and generally disseminated, for 
this and surrounding localities. Next I 
should place the Adirondae which, however, 
has a feminine fickleness that is very disap¬ 
pointing as regards a crop. Eumelan, Hart¬ 
ford, Creveling, Salem, and Allen’s Hybrid 
are grown -successfully. Champion, or Tal- 
man, ripens, perhaps, earlier than any other, 
but its poor quality, except for preserving, 
•a renders It undesira- 
ble. Massasoit and 
Vt Lindley (Roger’s 8 
\\ and 9) ripen usual- 
ly« an d are growing 
in favor with those 
who Lave tried 
Wvthem. Sweetwacer, 
l» quite a favorite, 
f y jLgkjffia and an improved 
v < ‘ql 8w<jctwater . larger 
* u berry and * ar 
finer flavored than 
the ^ 8vveetwater, 
GOLDEN PERPETUAL. . . 
no. t 3 i. has appeared in 
Montreal. Several early grapes of the Chassc- 
las type are also grown successfully near 
Montreal; but all these foreigners suffer badly 
from thrip and mildew, though dusting with 
dry sulphur is almost a specific for the latter. 
From observation I think foreigu grapisare 
generally more successful when grown here 
and in Canada out-of-doors than farther south. 
With some shelter, and especially in town gar¬ 
dens, they may be considered quite satisfacto¬ 
ry. Among the new early grapes much is ex¬ 
pected from Moore’s Early, Vcrgennes, and 
r. Friugle’s Golden Drop, the last an excel¬ 
lent while grape, closly allied to the Delaware 
in all its characteristics. 
Strawberries. 
Wilson, here as everywhere, is the standard 
market berry, aud is grown, even for a family 
supply, iu tluec-quaiters of the gardens. 
Downer’s Prolific is regarded as the beBt ly, 
preceding Wilson by five or six days. Charles 
Downing is a general favorite. Crescent 
Seedling has been largely planted within a 
year or two, but I doubt if any pistillate va¬ 
riety will ever be held iu much esteem. Mon¬ 
arch of the West is a failure generally, not 
ripening over the ends. Col. Cheney is too 
weak-stemmed, lying down in the- dirt, aud 
(unless both hands are used) the whole clus¬ 
ter comes off in picking instead of a single 
berry. Kentucky, Glendale and Windsor 
Chief are being tested for a late crop, but I 
have no decided success to report with any 
late variety as yet. 
Raspberries. 
Clark and Philadelphia have proved pretty 
satisfactory among the reds, but neither is 
enough superior to wild berries, which grow 
in great excellence and prolusion and sell for 
six cents a quart, to induce extensive plant¬ 
ing. Turner has not been tried, so far as I 
know. Nothing but the very hardiest will 
cover them, we occasionally secure a good 
crop. 8able Queen has given the most satis¬ 
factory results, being quite as hardy as any, 
very productive, with large, handsome fruit 
of good quality. 
Gooseberries. 
Houghton's, Downing’s, Smith’s, the Ameri¬ 
can and Shaker Seedlings have all been tried, 
and ail succeed well. Downing mildews some¬ 
what, especially if neglected. 
Currants. 
Currants are our most profitable market 
fruit, the currant worm giving almost a mo¬ 
nopoly to the large (V 
grower who can af- 
ford to attend to his 'a 
bushes in time. Hel- 11 
lebore is here applied 11 
as soon as the bushes 
are iu bloom, and 
when it is well done £j& ‘ 
we rarely see a 
worm. The fruit 
brings as good a price 
as strawberries, and 
can be grown at half 
the cost. The Red 
Dutch is the only va- W- 
rietv of much value 
for market, La Ver- 
saillaise aud Cherry 
being poor bearere, and white varieties unsala¬ 
ble. The Red Provens was at one time thought 
to be a great acquisition. It is extremely pro¬ 
ductive, but the fruit rots on the bushes almost 
as soon as ripe. We are looking for some¬ 
thing superior in Fay’s Prolific. 
Orleans Co., Vt. 
ARNOLD.—no. 138. 
OUR NEW R1FARIA GRAPES 
PROFESSOR GEORGE HUSMANN, COLUMBIA, MO, 
While Eastern grape-growers, in producing 
new seedling grapes, have mostly sought to 
improve the Lahrusca. and to hybridize it 
with the Vinifera. our Western men have 
turned their attention more to the improve¬ 
ment of the Kiparia, or River Bank Grape, 
taking the well known Taylor or Bullitt for 
the parent. Their efforts were directed more 
to the production of valuable wine grapes 
than of those adapted for table, and market; 
and, taking this variety for a starting point, 
the object they had in view may be summed 
up in a very few words. The Taylor has a 
thin skin, tender pulp, is juicy and makes 
an excellent wine. If in its seedling we can 
increase the size of 
\\ bunch and berries, 
11 also making them set 
v 11 better and prove 
Jj| more productive 
while they retain 
the good qualities of 
the parent, we shall 
r? W have what we want— 
lii’ij a first-class white wine 
That they 
CAROLINE.—FIG. 140. 
r grape 
have succeeded in 
this more than they 
dared to hope, no one 
I39, can doubt who has 
seen the seedlings grown and tasted the wine 
made from them, which already is competing 
successfully with the best vintages and pro 
ductions of the Rhine. But that they should 
also be able to produce superior table and 
market grapes was more than they expected. 
As all these seedlings seem to be entirely 
phylloxera-proof, and as they withstand tlm 
coldest Winters without the slightest in¬ 
jury, I may safely predict that they will form 
one of the foundations upon which the failing 
vineyards of France and California will be re¬ 
built, especially as they propagate 
very readily from cuttings. 1 will 
^ ^ give short descriptions of the 
most prominent varieties. Mr. 
Jacob Rommell. of Morrison. Mo., 
has produced the following : 
L Elvira.— Too well known al- 
B ready to need a minute desciip- 
tion. Bunch medium, shouldered, 
^ very compact; berry about the 
^ zo °* lbe Catawba, greenish- 
yellow, with pale amber tint 
I when fully ripe, sweet, sprightly 
*1 aud good. Vine short jointed, 
stocky, with fine, deep-green fe¬ 
lt?.;-,W eSSt llage, enormou-ly productive. 
Amber. — Same parentage — 
Kentucky.—fig. 137. Bunch fully medium, sho i!» 
dared, not so compact as Elvira; 
berry oblong, pale amber when fully ripe, 
size of Isabella; skin thin but tough, covered 
with an exquisite, bloom ; very sweet, high- 
flavored, juicy, with very little pulp. A beau¬ 
tiful and very good grape, valuable for mar¬ 
ket and wine. Vine a strong, long-jointed 
grower showing accidental hybridization 
with Lubrusea, healthy and productive. 
Pearl.— Similar to Elvira in bunch and 
berry, but not so compact and finer flavored. 
A very strong grower, with beautiful deep- 
green foliage—of high promise for wine. 
ARNOLD.—FIG 
W taken in his vineyard, 
and also at other pla¬ 
ces where I saw them 
__ „ No. 1—Commonly call- 
ed Missouri Riesling. 
This is the best bearer of Mr. Greiu’s seedlings. 
Vine a moderate, very healthy grower; leaf 
lobed and pointed: seems to be a hybrid be¬ 
tween Riparia and Labrusca; very product¬ 
ive, healthy aud hardy. Bunch medium, 
shouldered, moderately compact- Berry mt- 
diuui, nearly the size of Catawba, pale amber 
when fully ripe, very sweet and of fine flavor ; 
tender pulp. This is undoubtedly a fine wine 
grape, and may prove au attractive market 
fruit. 
The Noah —A Taylor seedling of Mr. Wae- 
serzieher, of Nauvoo, I1L, which I had also 
bearing in my vineyard. It is a true Cordi- 
folia, to judge from its leaf; seems to be veiy 
productive, heslthy and hardy, and I con¬ 
sider it v«rv promising. Bunch long, moder¬ 
ately compact and shouldered. Beriy round, 
(Continued on page 161.) 
KENTUCKY 
8MALL FRUITS IN NORTHERN VERMONT 
AND CANADA. 
stand anj chance in this climate. The Black¬ 
caps, chiefly Doolittle, are growu for market, 
and sell readily in all our villages at 10 to 13 
cents. Mammoth Clustei and Davison’s 
Thornless are both failures. Seneca prolongs 
the season a little, and appears about equal to 
Doolittle. Gregg has not been tried. 
Blackberries. 
No blackberries will stand our Winters un¬ 
covered. By planting the hardier kinds under 
the lee of a fence, where snow drifts will soon 
T. H. HOSKINS M. D, 
Grapea, 
I have recently received a copy of the 
Weather Bureau’s Report, with maps show¬ 
ing the isothermal lines for the different 
months. It was interesting to see that, al¬ 
though we have the temperature of Quebec 
at this point during the Winter months, we 
