SUPPLEMENT TO THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
MAR 2& 
For red grapes for the family, my first selec¬ 
tion, with my present impressions, would be 
Delaware and Vergennes for fine quality and 
bardiuess in Winter, as well as productiveness. 
The Delaware, however, is subject to mildew 
of the foliage in unfavorable seasons, auddoes 
much better when planted on or near tbe 
walls or sides of buildings, or when sheltered 
from sudden changes of temperature. For a 
less rigorous climate, where the thermometer 
does not mark more than 81 or 101 degrees 
below zero, or where planters will prune in 
Autumn and give winter protection. I would 
perhaps substitute Brighton and Jefferson, 
though the latter is rather late iu ripening, 
and both are liable to have their fruit-buds 
kill'd in severe Winters. 
For Market —Wherever they can be growD 
successfully, I regard the Delaware and Ca¬ 
tawba as among the best red grapes. But 
where they do not succeed, those named for 
family use would be equally good for market. 
Selections also might be made from Rogers's 
red hybrids, Agawam, Massasoit, Lindley, or 
Salem, which succeed well in many places, 
and are showy, of good quality, and produc¬ 
tive. 
For Family Use —For two white grapes, se¬ 
lecting from older and well tested varieties, for 
general health, hardiness, and productiveness, 
1 should plant Lady and Martha. For more 
favorable locations, or where winter protec¬ 
tion could be given, I should prefer Duchessor 
Prentiss to tbe Martha, though tbe latter has 
not proven hardy or healthy enough in foliage 
and growth to be recommended here. An¬ 
toinette, one of the late Mr. Miner’s seedlings, 
has a healthy vine, is of vigorous growth, and 
bears well, generally. It has medium sized 
clusters, and large berries, and is of fair 
quality, ripening about with the Concord. In 
some seasons it has been very satisfactory, 
aud appeared very promising for a profitable 
market grape. The past season, however, it 
snowed too much disposition to fall from tbe 
cluster, especially if over ripe. After fruit 
ing it tor two seasons, 1 am inclined to the 
belief that the Pocklington may prove valu¬ 
able for a market grape where it will ripen 
perfectly, its period being a week later than 
that of the Coucord. It seems a very valu¬ 
able vine, with foliage of Concord type, and 
old and well-established vines bear very large 
and handsome clusters; and, though the 
flavor is somewhat foxy, when well ripened, 
tbe grape is, to my taste, richer and finer than 
tbe Concord. It also bears handling better, 
and keeps in good condition much longer after 
being gathered. 
The two new white grapes, Empire State 
and Niagara, 1 consider worthy of remark in 
this connection, for they interest me, and they 
are also destined to be of interest and import¬ 
ance to tbe grape-growing public. As an 
amateur, I would plant them in preference to 
any otners. I had an opportunity last Sep 
tember of testing them together with tbe 
Pocklington They were sent me about the 
same time, all grown iu the State of New 
York; Empire State from Rochester; Nia 
gara from Brocton; Pocklington from Sandy 
Rill. All were very fine specimens, the best 
I bad seen of the respective varieties. In size 
of berries and weight of clusters, Pocklington 
was the largest of the three. In size of berries, 
Niagara was next; while in weight of clusters 
Empire State and Niagara averaged the 
same. In quality and flavor Empire State was 
to my taste much finer and purer than either 
of the others, being entirely free from foxy 
taste or odor. Both tbe others were quite 
strong in this respect, and were more alike m 
flavor or character than I had supposed. The 
Pocklington seemed to have more sugar, and 
was sweeter to the taste than the Niagara, 
while the latter had more vinous acid. 1 have 
grown Pockliugton four years. Empire State 
two, Niagara not at all. Pockliugton is 
usually rather slender in growth while young, 
but healthy and hardy and increasing in 
vigor as tbe vines are older. Empire State is 
vigorous iu growth, with perfect foliage, and 
very hardy. Where I have seen Niagara 
growing, it has been generally vigorous in 
growth, with heavy foliage. I think it the 
strongest-growing vine of tbe three. 1 regard 
them all as worthy of extensive trial, with 
the probability that all will prove valuable. 
From S C. Satterthwait, Aiken, S. C.: 
For Family Use —To be planted here I 
should recommend: Concord, Wyoming Red. 
Niagara. 
Fur Market —Champion and Niagara The 
Scuppernong proves valuable for both home 
use and market. 
From O. J. Tillson, Highland, Ulster Co., 
N. Y.: 
I think the best two vines of black, red, and 
white grapes for family use are, Concord and 
Delaware, and Ulster, Prolific, Niagara, and 
Duchess For market, Concord and Cham¬ 
pion, Delaware and Poughkeepsie Red, Niag 
ara and Duchess. 
From L. Barms, Euclid, O.: 
If your soil is adapted for grapes, I should 
advise you to select as follows: Black: Moore’s 
Early and Worden. Red: Empire State an 1 
Brighton or Jefferson. White: Lady Wash¬ 
ington or Niagara for either market or home 
use. All are very fine table grapes. 
From Professor J. L. Budd, A me?, Ia. 
For Home Use and Market: Black: Con- 
Concord aud Worden. White: Martha and 
Pockliugton. Red: Agawam and Salem. But 
it is well to note that on tbe black drift soils 
constituting a large part of tbe inland 
prairies, we have no profitable white or red 
grapes. On the loess formations of the Mis¬ 
souri, tbe white and red sorts named do fairly 
well. 
From Dr. T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vt.: 
None but tbe early sorts of grapes will ripen 
in Northern Vermont: 
Fo?' Rome Use —Black: Eumelan. Israella, 
(Moore’s Early on trial.) Red: Brighton, 
Salem, (Delaware tbird ) White: Lady, and 
Pringle’s Goldeu Drop. But the whites seem 
to be feeble growers here. Grapes are not 
grown here for market. 
From W. Phillips, Grand Haven, Mich : 
For Home Use —Black: Concord and Wor¬ 
den. Red: Iona and Delaware. White: Ni¬ 
agara and Prentiss. 
For Market —Black; Worden aud Moore's 
Early. Red: Brighton and Salem. White: 
Niagara and Prentiss. The above list is tbe 
best for our sandy soil and location. It is also 
the best for our market. 
From Geo. M. High. Middle Bass, O.: 
For Home Use— Worden, Wilder (and would 
include Isabella for canning) Brighton aud 
Catawba, Lady Washington aud Golden Gem. 
For Market —W orden and Wilder,Delaware 
and Catawba. Though growing 20 varieties 
of white sorts, I hare not shipped auy; and so 
far as observation extends, unle-s Empire 
State or Niagara proves better than any I 
have, a good white grape is yet to be brought 
forward. 
From J. N. Stearns, of Kalamazoo, Mich : 
From my experience and observation up to 
this time, I would select tbe following two 
varieties of grapes, of each color, both for 
home and market. What is the use of plant¬ 
ing fruit of any kind even for home use, if of 
ever so fine a quality, if it usually fails to pro 
ducel I have planted nearly all the white 
grapes that have been disseminated within the 
last 15 years, and the two I mention below, 
are all I would plant if vines were given me: 
Black: Worden and Concord. Red: Brighton 
and Delaware. White: Niagara and Martha 
From Samuel J. Wells, Onondaga, N. Y.: 
My selection, which is governed by a Unfit¬ 
ted knowledge of the newest varieties, and 
which would be for my immediate locality, 
would be: 
For Home Us?—Black: Worden and Eume¬ 
lan. Red: Delaware and Iona. White: Ni¬ 
agara and Duchess. I could add others of ex 
cellent quality: but for just two of each sort 
I would select the above. The only change I 
would make in a selection of two varieties 
each for market, would be to substitute Con 
cord for Eumelan. 
From G. Onderdonk, Victoria, Texas: 
The varieties best suited to the extreme 
South would be entirely worthless in the ex¬ 
treme North of the United States, and vice 
versa. In general terms, it is true that there 
is “no universal grape.” For each thermal 
zone there should be a separate list. We of 
the extreme South should plant Black July 
aud Lenoir for black grapes,whether for wine, 
table, or market. We should plant Herbe- 
mont and Harwood for purple, and have no 
red grape. For white we have only Malaga, 
except some new varieties not yet offered to 
the public. For one or two degrees above us 
there should be planted Black July aud Lenoir 
for black; Herbemont and Harwood for pur¬ 
ple, and Cunningham for red, though uot 
really red, and Malaga for white. 
From C. P. Wheeler, Temple N. H.: 
1 have vineyards of tbe Niagara white grape 
and the Concord, aud I am testing the Pren¬ 
tiss, Duchess, Pockliugtou, Worden, Brighton, 
aud Delaware. 1 do not believe auy black 
grape can be found so well adapted for this 
section as the Concord; and if it can be gro wu 
to perfection (as it is by Dr, Jabez Fisher, of 
Fitchburg, Mass., tbe Haywards, of Ashby, 
Mass , and the Whitakers, of Mason, N. H.), 
I doubt if it can be excelled either for market 
or home use. For red grapes it is hard to 
choose between the Brighton and the Dela¬ 
ware. I can report more positively as to 
white grapes. I am growing, successfully, 
the Niagara, and I do not believe it can bo 
equaled, either for home use or for market, 
by any grape cultivated in America, black, 
red, or white. 
From 8. Hoyt’s Son, New Cuuaau, Conn.: 
For Family Use—Iu my opiuion the best 
grapes are, Biack: Worden. vVbite: Ducbess. 
Rea: Brigntou, Jefferson, 
For Market Use —Concord and Martha. 
I suppose some for a white grape would 
name the Prentiss, Niagara, or Pocklington. 
Of these I cannot speak with certainty. The 
Niagara 1 could not buy to test. I aiu a little 
shy of it. although we have it for sale. Poek- 
lingtou I find is too late for us. The Prentiss 
I fear is subject to mildew. I have named 
Brighton and Jefferson for red; they both 
bear excellent fruit, but with us they are a 
little apt to mildew. The Poughkeepsie is a 
fine red grape, and I guess it is hardy; but 1 
have to test it. There is no fiuer fruit, and it 
is worthy of trial by every grape grower. 
From Geo. W. Lawton, Lawton, Micb.: 
I have taken tbe precaution to show the 
Rural’s questions to several other experi¬ 
enced grape growers of this place, aud got 
their replies. We substantially agree except 
as to white grapes, and as to tnese I certainly 
give you my opinion aud l believe that of the 
majority of those consulted. 
It must, further, be noted that we do not 
yet raise grapes here for wine. Ours are all 
marketed for table use, and the quality of this 
fruit is so bigb for tbe variety that fittle can 
be judged of specimens grown elsewhere, by 
those grown here. Our vineyards are mostly 
on high, rolling ground, composed of sand, 
gravel, mud aud drift—a very warm soil and 
of great depth We calculate on 15 degrees 
below zero as the lowest range of the ther 
mometer, with Lake Michigan (from which 
we are distant, about 20 miles, direct course) 
remaining open all Winter. If the lake is 
frozen over, as it has been this year, we get 
a touch of the Manitoba breeze, that retniuds 
us of Dakota. 
My choice of varieties of grapes, then, is: 
Black: Concord and Worden. Rod: Delaware 
and baleen. White: Niagara and Martha. 
From P. M. Augur, Middlefield, Conn.: 
What two varieties of red, black and white 
grapes for home use, and what for market* 
In answeriug these questions I will say for 
red grapes for New England, 1st, Brighton. 
It is reasonably hardy, fairly productive and 
of excellent quality; but it wants better cult¬ 
ure than the Concord, and is itself better 
Again, after reaching perfection, it soon de¬ 
teriorates, but it is early and indispensuble. 
2nd, Vergennes, which is a strong grower, 
hardy, productive and ripeniug a little later 
than the Concord; but it is a good grape, aud 
a most excellent keeper Thislast point makes 
it desirable, so I would select the above two 
both for home use aud for market. Among 
black grapes there is a large list of desirable 
sorts. I should be slow to confine myself to 
two; but tor the masses I should say for home 
use plant Early Victor aud Worden; for mar¬ 
ket, Moore’s Early and Concord. The Early 
Victor is hardy, early, excellent and pro iuc- 
tive; but tbe berry and clusters are small for 
market. Moore's Early is good, yet not equal 
to the Concord in productiveness: but it has a 
large berry and is so decidedly early as to be 
very desirable for market. The Worden for 
home use is superior to the Concord; but as a 
shipper it is uot so good, being less perfect in 
cluster and having a skin more easily burstiug 
under pressure. 
I would select,among our older white grapes, 
Lady for early, and Martha for late, for either 
h >me use or market. Among the newer grapes 
i incline to trust the Francis B. Hayes and 
Niagara. I am also most favorably inclined to¬ 
ward the Ulster, of Mr. Cay wood, and believe 
it will be one of the very best market grapes; 
but we can speak more confidently of all these 
after a trial. The Duchess is the very best iu 
quality of all tbe out-door white grapes; hilt 
it is inclined to be tender with us; so is tbe 
Jefferson, otherwise I would include both 
among tlie two in their respective classes. 
Where people have a small number of vines 
they want those of known reliability, 
sell the good: eat the best. 
From Sec. Charles W. Garfield, Grand 
Rapids, Micb.: 
There is less difference between tbe mar¬ 
ket and family ideals lu grapes than iu 
apples or pears. Still when we have in 
dividual tastes to consider, of which we have 
definite knowledge, the selection of varieties 
may be considerably modified thereby. 
lu my own selection of white grapes for 
home use, 1 should certainly discard the Ni¬ 
agara were 1 to consider simply my own taste. 
But the remainder of the household especially 
enjoy a peculiarity of flavor iu this variety, 
that is quite offensive to me, after the clusters 
have been confined for a little time. 
So,my dear Rural, please remember iu my 
selection for home use, I have waived my own 
preferences, and submit to the majority vote 
of the household, aud with very good grace, 
knowing from experience that the best devel¬ 
oped organs of taste do uot rest with the bead 
of the family. 
In my choice for market I have a due 
regard for certain peculiarities of soil about 
our o*n city, that seeoi to preclude the pro¬ 
fitable growing of certain varieties tuat suc¬ 
ceed in other localities; and I also take into 
consideration the fact that we do not grow 
enough grapes yet for our home market; and 
the special likes of our own people come into 
the estimate of values. 
For Home Use—White: Lady and Niagara. 
Red: Delaware and Brighton. Biack: Moore’s 
Early aud Coucord. 
Fur Market —White: Niagara aud Niagara. 
Red: Brighton and Agawam. Black: Wor¬ 
den aud Concord. 
Last season was the first in which we had 
any quantity of Wordens iu our market, and 
they were pretty well gone when our Con¬ 
cords were ready to market. Please bear in 
miud that my judgment is somewhat biased—a 
fact I am very willing to admit, because it is 
formed as a consumer rather than as a commer¬ 
cial vine-grower. This is why I named the 
Delaware rather than the Champion or Per¬ 
kins. The latter two seem to sell well, but I 
never buy them, aud have uo place for them in 
my owu rows of vines. 
From Wm. Parry, of Parry, N. J. 
The climate of our section is a very severe 
test, aud of tbe red varieties we have not as 
yet found anything entirely satisfactory. We 
have, however, hopes from Mr Cay wood’s 
seedlings. Poughkeepsie Red aud Ulster Proli¬ 
fic. Of those sufficiently tested, I would name: 
For Home Use —Black: Moore’s Early, Con¬ 
cord. Red: Brighton, Jefferson. White: 
Niagara. Pocklington. 
For Market— Black: Moores Early. Cham¬ 
pion. Red: Wyoming Red, Jefferson. White: 
Niagara, Pockliogtun. 
From J W. Prentiss, Pultney, N. Y.: 
TbeRCRALasks what two black.red and white 
grapes for home use and market would 1 se¬ 
lect. The selection for home use involves 
only individual taste, aud is easily made. But 
tastes differ; some prefer the Concord to any 
other black grape; but 1 object to any grape 
that carries the fox flavor. The only excuse 
foj* growing coarse fruits is that they can be 
grown where better cannot. As grapes of 
high quality can be grown round the lakes of 
Ceutral New York, there is no necessity for 
growing others. 
. For Home Use —especially for Winter—we 
have no black grape to take tbe place of tbe 
old, and nearly discarded Isabella, wbeu pro¬ 
perly grown. Tbe variety, as now grown, 
would hardly bereeoguized by old time grape 
growers. It cannot be grown to perfectior on 
the renewal system of trimming viuos. The 
Eumelan is undoubtedly our best black table 
grape; but as it fails in fruitiog. it is only 
grown for borne use. 
For red grapes, tbe Iona is undoubtedly the 
best we have; but it baa never been apprecia¬ 
ted in the market. There seems as much 
fashion iu market grape3as in ladies’ bonnets. 
The Delaware, one of the best red grapes, 
could hardly be sold iu New York for enough 
to pay transportation when it was first intro¬ 
duced; butiu Boston it was better apprecia¬ 
ted. Now, however, in New York it is not 
sec jnd to the Catawba. I f the Jefferson proves 
a vineyard grape, it will take the place of the 
Iona—it is ou trial, with favorable results. 
For white grapes for home use, the Empire 
State for purity and flavor now “takes the 
cake.” If it can be successfully grown, it will 
take high rank with cultivated tastes. The 
Duchess is a pure uud pleasant grape—not as 
rich as the Prentiss. I grow both for home 
use aud market. Both have admirers; but 
the Duchess has faults iu growing that the 
Prentiss has not. I’be true quality of the 
Prentiss is not yet known in market, on ac- 
counlof its being overloaded beyond the power 
of the vino to perfect its fruit. With grape- 
growers on Crooked Lake, the Coucord is the 
only reliable black grape for market; uot be 
cause it is tbe best, but because it sells the 
best. But the Concord is planted now only for 
stock to graft better varieties on, being a 
strong grower. 
Tbe best red grapes for market are the Ca¬ 
tawba aud Delaware. White grapes for mar¬ 
ket: Prentiss and Duchess. The Rebecca 
would be preferred to the Duchess, if it could 
bo grown. The Niagara aud Pocklington are 
not grown here, aud probably will uot be to 
any extent; yet they will always be market 
grapes, as some will prefer their peculiar 
flavor; and beauty will always have admirers, 
but quality w ill eventually be required. 
Grape growing is yet in its infancy. Taste in 
fruit, as iu everything else, is bumg cultiva¬ 
ted. New varieties '‘to tlie manor born” will 
yet be introduced, that will take the place of 
rnauy that, if not failures, are uot up to re¬ 
quirements. The Catawba is yet our favorite 
grape; but we are looking for an equally good 
sort with less acid center. There is ouly one 
of Rogers’s do-calied hybrids, that I would 
pluut—that one is No. 1 (Goethe) white, with a 
red or piuk cheek. But they, or some of them, 
succeed where the Catawba does not. Tbe 
Agawam is grown here to some extent; but 
none of tnern is a success arouud Crooked 
Lake. 
