About Grapes

For tlie Mieíiigan Farmer. The past severa winter bas been very trying to grapes, in tnis vioinity, and the Isabellaa and Oatawbas, which are chielly growD bere, are nearly killed to the ground. The few that have escupcd ure, lor ttio most part, starting bnt feebly, and the fruit, lor the season, ia a total lailure. The few exceptiona ft "o mostly of randorn parielies, posses8 d ot' little or uo merit beyond mero hardiness. Among theso there is one, known as the Dunlap Grape, whicli has buen allowed, in sorae cases that have come undor the writar's observation to ramble, at pleaflure, ovor trees, buahes or lencea, and has como throngh tlie winter unscathed, and is producing an abundant erop. The utmost that is claimed for U is thut it is a passable wine grapo. lts acidity entirely unfits it for the dessert. Anolher variety that has provecí itself entirely hardy, is the one rocently ■o extensively advertised, in central New York, as the Oporto; a name applied to it ander the npprehensiou that it was an importation from tho city of that name. That this is a ïnistake, however, wiil be obvious to r.ny eonDoiseur, who wil] take the trouble to examine either the plant or tho fruit, and observe its strongly marked native charaoteristics. This grafie was in troduced here long before it, attracted gsoeral attentioa in New York, and has been for some years in full boarin amoog UB. It lirst attraoted the writer's attention on tho grounds of Winfield 8oott, of this town, at whoso place he also li.hted a specimen of wine produced fiom it, which wou ld compare favorably with the bost of either foieign or nativo production. lt iá for tnis purppse that thif grupo is espeeially valuod. as it is usunlly rather austero for the dessert Vulling the grounds of Mr. iScott, thia summer, the writer found a numbor of vigoróos viues !)f this variety plantod along his garden fence, and aliowed tu plufubör uupruncd over it. These wero lound to have passed tha winter, in this positioa, uuinjurod; and .vero I.iterally loadod with ftuit f he writer obtained a layar from these vinos, which he p'anted lust spring, and which is now bearing severa! fine bunches of fruit, nearly ripe, lt nppears to bo peri'octly adapted to our try ing elimaUs, On the writer'a grounds there are quite a variety of the nevver grapes, which wü'o left upon the ground through the winter, with no covering bat the snow. These were somewbat injured by the winter; but in most oases, enough wood was left. to produce a fine show of fruit. Marión was the the first to color, but was slow in raaturiog iis fluvor, and is vet quite acid. A rich and valuable wine grape, a descendant ol our native Frost Grape, and probably noods the s iv cc ten ing attentions of ita nainesake, to niollifv and perfect its flavor. üne oí tho hardiest. Hartford l'rolific is now fully ripe. - Berry of fine size and good flavor - bunch large, and plmty of thrm, vine a strong grower, easy of' propagation, vory bardy, one of the vory earücst, a ad ospouially adapted to general planting. Deluware is also ripo. To thone w'ho keep up with the horticultura! news of tho day, it is unnoeessary to reinark that in quality, productiveness and hiirilinoss, this stands clearly at the head of the list. It must also be stuted, however, tb at it is diffieult of propagation, only i moderate grower, and the bunch and ben}' both quite email, It is also doubtless trae that it will not beur negleet' Üke some other sorts. In despito of' all these drawbacks, however, a tasto of the ripe fruit is pretty sure to setfe the purcbaiser of plants ootwitKatanding the rather strong draft required upou bis puree. Rebeoca is also nearly ripo, and is tho more at;ractivo becau.se it ad ds to earlinass, fine quality, and other dosiable pointe, an unusual and desirable color - amonií good nativos, gieenish white. The foliage of this variety has sone foreign characteristies, which has led to a suspicion that it might be partially or wholly of foreign extraction, although of native birth. With the writer, it bas so far shown nono of tho faiüngs usualiy incident to foreign varieties iu our climato. Diana winter-killed bftdly, but is fruiting moderately. Undor good treatment it is oqual to the Catawba in its best estáte, lt is a nativo of Massaehusett", but succeeds quite a3 wcil iurther soulh. It has also, tho fine color of the Catawba, but a smaller berry and ripens with Isabella. Kuther tender, but daAirabte. Northern Mascadroe is now fully ripe. Thi; has lioon much praised by its introduoers and traduced by others. It is bearing moderately. The color is rich, but rather dingy; berry largo, bunch moderato, vory compact; flavor sweet, with too much foxiness to be ploasant. It will not take rank with Hartford Prolifio, with which il is identical in Béasoo. Very hardy. Clinton bao oeme through the winter almost uninjured, and bbearlogbeavily It is now fully colored, but liko all ils brothren, the Frost Grapes, must await tbe visita. of its tutelar divinity to perfect its flavor. iiunoh and berry email, but compact; a very hardy plant, and a ti ut! wine grape for tbe extreme north. Paesable for eating, when fully ripened. Elsingburgh is a southern grape. It was still in bloom when others were half' grown, and yet is now riponing in advance of Isabolhi. Bunob and berry both vory binall, fruit when ripe without pulp, and very rich and svvoot: bearing only a few imperfect bunchos. liathar too tender for uj but much valued in tho latitude of Missouri, as a, wiue grapo. To Kalon is bearing heavily, and the fruit is now coloring finely - will ripen before Isabolla. Euneh and berry very large and showy, and of excellent quality. One of tho most desirable. At the east it is said to rot on the vines; bnt the writer han not been troubled in this way. Bo far it has proved one of the most desirable Cor this región - Very hardy and one of tho most vigorous and prolifio. Concord is about half colored. Il is bearing a Moderate erop, and promises to sustain its provious reputatioo as to beauty, si.o and quaüty. It lost about half ïts wood by the wiater. ] Hurbement, anothcr southorn grape, although hiic) down like the others was killed to tho ground. It has, howover, pusbed from the rooi, and has mado enormous growthá tho preseut season. No fruit. Isabeün has been eoloring fora weok ÖT ten dayn past, but is hardly likely to r'.pm perfectly this season. It lost more tusa half its wood the past wintur. Cütawba has, as yet, begun to coltiy otily a íovv Minches, and will utforly fail to ripcn its erop. Noxf, to Hartford l'rohfic and To Kalon it is beariog the hoaviest erop of any varioty on thé criter'a grounds. It lost more than half its wood. G rapes as woll as all othar fruiti, are ne-arly or quita tvvo weeka later than usual at this suason.