THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
77 
IMPROVING THE AMERICAN GRAPE. 
George VV. Campbell, Delaware, O., read the following 
paper on “ The Agency of Crossing and Hybridizing in 
the Improvement of the American Grape”: 
As this is 11 subject which has engaged my attention for nearly forty 
years, and as in the natural course of events it cannot be expected that 
my work shall be much longer continued, I have thought that some 
remarks upon my labors and observations during that time might be of 
some interest and benefit to any who may be inclined to experiment 
thus in the way of improving grapes, or other fruits ; as the same 
methods and principles are applicable to all products of the vegetable 
kingdom. 
1 have discovered that improvements can be made in fruits and 
vegetables, by the intelligent crossing of kindred varieties with as 
great success, and apparently with as much certainty as similar im¬ 
provements are made in the animal kingdom, by bringing together 
different individuals having valuable qualities which it may be de¬ 
sirable to perpetuate or combine, in the production of a race or sub¬ 
jects of higher character and excellence than have heretofore existed. 
As my experiments have been mainly directed to the grape, I shall 
confine myself to that fruit for the limited time in which I shall ask 
your attention. 
There is little difficulty in producing seedling grapes of the finest 
quality very nearly equaling in flavor the best of the foreign or exotic 
varieties, by crossing our best native grapes with those exotics. Un¬ 
fortunately, however, hardiness of vine and vigorous constitution does 
not in the first crossing necessarily, or by any means, frequently occur. 
But there will be occasionally in the same lot of seedlings individuals 
that resemble, or as we say, “take after’’one parent more than the 
other, the same as in the animal kingdom. Usually with the grape, 
those which approach nearest to the native parent in habit of growth 
and foliage will have fruit of corresponding character. On the other 
hand, in some rare cases, the fruit has been found to partake of the 
excellence of the exotic parent while retaining largely the health and 
vigor of the native. And just here is the first important step toward 
improvement. Several of Mr. Rogers hybrids were measurably of this 
type, and have obtained and retain in many places deserved popularity. 
Their greatest weakness, however, and that which most impedes their 
usefulness, results from their imperfect blossoms. Mr. Rogers evi¬ 
dently thought the line of further improvement lay in the crossing of 
his hybrids again upon the foreign varieties, and although he thus 
produced finer flavor and quality in the fruit, the increased tenderness 
and weakness of the vines rendered the second crosses nearly valueless. 
In my own experience, after producing and testing for many years 
hundreds of delightful grapes, nearly all were rejected, because they 
developed some faults or weaknessess which rendered them in my 
judgment unworthy of recommendation as positive improvements, 
substantially better in all important respects than others already in¬ 
troduced and in cultivation. These first experiments were what might 
be called general; making crosses somewhat at random with some of 
the finer exotics and the most popular natives, also combinations of 
our best native varieties. The result from these efforts, though in 
teresting and in some instances apparently valuable, were not satis, 
factory. They did not come up to my standard. 
Afterward my whole attention w T as directed toward the fixed and 
definite improvement of some of our most popular favorites ; such for 
instance, as a type of the Catawba, without hard and acrid pulp about 
the seeds, and ripening as the Delaware, with increased vigor, health 
and hardiness of the vine ; or a Delaware grape, of larger size, borne 
upon a strong, hardy and vigorous vine, with heavy, healthy and 
mildew-resisting foliage ; or a Concord or Worden, wdth firmer berries 
and finer flavor, possessing better shipping facilities. If these or 
similar improvements could be made and demonstrated, their value 
would at once be recognized by every grape-grower in the land. 
It is perhaps not desirable to follow the successive steps that led to 
the accomplishment of one of these contemplated improvements 
further than to say that after about 20 years working in this direction 
always with a definite object in mind, and a pre determined combina¬ 
tion to produce the desired result, I achieved the greatest success in 
my life, in a really improved Concord that satisfied my most exacting 
requirements, after the mpst careful observation and rigid tests for the 
past twelve years ; a variety having every good point of the Concord * 
without any of its faults or weaknesses. Far more healthy and vigor 
ous in growth, larger in bunch and berry, finer in flavor and quality, 
firmer in its consistence for handling and shipping, earlier in ripening 
and later in keeping either on or off the vine. From the first year of 
its seedling growth to the present time it has positively developed no 
fault, has never shown a mildewed leaf or rotten grape, and has never 
been sprayed with bordeaux or any other mixture. That it will always 
remain so, even in its native home, or always be free from faults in 
other localities, I dare not say, any more than I could declare that a 
healthy and vigorous man who says he has “ never been sick in his 
life” would always remain so. I think, however, that all who have 
grown many kinds of grapevines know that there is a great difference 
in varieties as to their tendency to rot in their fruit, and their liability 
to mildew or blight in their foliage, and from its record to this time, 1 
have much confidence that this grape will prove and remain at least as 
healthy and successful in all grape-growing localities as any of our 
standard native varieties, for during several of the years of its exist¬ 
ence in the same locality, and under the same conditions, other kinds 
have nearly all rotted and been affected with mildew in its immediate 
vicinity, while it remained exempt. 
I trust you will pardon me for saying In addition that the grape of 
which I have spoken is the only one of the large number which I have 
produced that I am perfectly willing should bear my name in its in¬ 
troduction. For I feel entire confidence that it will be recognized as a 
truly valuable acquisition to our list of American grapes, and worthy 
of a high position among the best that are now known. Of the many 
new grapes which have been produced through the worthy efforts of 
enthusiastic experimenters in past years, Rogers, Ricketts, Caywood, 
Jacob Moore, Munson and others, it seems surprising that so few have 
attained extensive popularity for general planting, and seem to have 
supplanted the Concord, Worden and Delaware, though some of 
Rogers’hybrids seem to be “holding their own,” if not increasing in 
public favor. Mr. Moore’s Brighton and Diamond seem valuable addi¬ 
tions and likely to take an honorable position among our standard varie¬ 
ties. Mr. Mimson, of Texas, is doubtless the largest experimenter in 
this line in the Union, and many of his new creations as grown in 
Texas, are certainly very fine, and we may reasonably look for remark¬ 
able and useful additions to our lists when they become more exten. 
sively known. The variety which I have tested most successfully, 
named Brilliant, is very satisfactory, and promises to be among the best 
red grapes I have grown for general use, and worthy of extensive 
trial. 
I have faith that the good work will still go on. and though per¬ 
manent advancement may be slow, I feel that it will be sure, and also 
that it will come through the agency of crossing and hybridizing com¬ 
binations with the best varieties of grapes now known. 
TARIFF DISCUSSION. 
At the afternoon session on Thursday, President Wilson 
brought up the subject of the tariff, and suggested that 
a committee be appointed to wait upon the ways and 
means committee of the house of representatives. “ The 
majority of the nurserymen believe that there ought to 
be a high protective tariff on nursery stock ” said Presi¬ 
dent Wilson. 
A. L. Brooke: “After conferring with members I 
wish to make a statement and to follow it with a motion. 
The Western Association of Wholesale Nurserymen cir¬ 
culated a petition to congressmen west of the Mississippi 
river. I have the honor to be on the committee having 
this work in hand. We wrote to senators and congress¬ 
men and received replies, but nothing encouraging. 
When the time comes this committee will be with you. 
We do not believe in a tariff for tax only, but a high pro. 
tective tariff. We believe that the tariff has more to do 
with the low prices than anything else. We in the seed- 
