Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-04-09

Will you allow inc to say few
words to your readers about Grape Vines
find there are many persons in Vermont and
New Hampshire who feel that it i' Of no to try
to raise Grapes, because in their opinion, no really
good varieties will ripcu far north. Is this
opinion we'll founded? II is, doubtless, true
that many varieties, which have been highly
recommended have proved, on trial to be
entirely unsatisfactory. Either they would
not ripen before FROST OF we're Of inferior quail.
ity when ripe. But great advance has been
made Of late in getting g)od varieties which will
ripcn early, and there now several kinds Of very
good grapes which, in favorable situations (as on
tho south side of building WALL may be pretty
confidently relied upon to ripou we'll in ordinary
seasons But il thi, all than be truly said for
the encouragement Of those who wish to raise this
delicious fruit ] believe nat There are varieties
which will ripcn in the open garden, and Of one at
least of these it Is not enough to say that it is
good grape. Though n native grape, and one pos
sessng all the qualities which fit it for out-ofdoor
culture, it ranks in quality, if We may believe
those best qualified to judge, with the best varic-
ties ordinarily cultivated under glass. The variety
to which l nludc is tho DELAWARE.
Mr.. Tracy, Of Windsor Editor of the Vermont
Chronicle, ripcncd this grape perfectly last year.
and though the season was n very unfayorablc one
for developing the good qualities Of such fruit
he concurs with others who have tried it, in pro-
nounclng it Of tho best quality. lie snys Of it
There is none earlier nor any Of better quality,
early or late. 1t may be relied on, with good cul.
turc, to ripcn here, early in september and in quail
ity is decidedly BEST
MIR. Tracy has the best opportunity for forming
an opinion, as he has tried almost every variety
which has been recommended for the North.
Dr.. Grant, Of Iona Island, in the Hudson River,
who has, probably the finest vineyard cast Of Ohio,
and who has tried almost every variety of native
grape Of any promise, says, in letter written
last fall: " Rcbccca and Diana will ripcn with you
On the south side OF house, Dciaware only, in open
vineyard Isabella and Catawha have not
rpcncl fruit with ne. Delaware hn> been good
to cat four weeks and fully ripe t.r,- weeks
In answer to inquiries in regard to the Hartford
Prolific, Dr.. Grant says: at is earlier than Con-
cord, and many will like it as we'll Fifteen years
ago, rclishcd the quality Of either. \ good Ca
tawba destroyed tho taste for these, good Diana
for the Catawba, and Delaware lessons the relish
for Diana but good Diana will stand as good by
the side Of the best Chasselas Black Hamburg
that ever tasted The Delaware zoe. above them,
and stands proudly by the side Of the Frontinans,
which to my taste, the standard Of excellence"
The Rcbecca is new white grape, Of the high
excellence, and will doubtless ripcn in favorn.
bic situations 1t is ten day, at least earlier than
Isabella.
The Diana Is variety Of established reputation,
rpening from ten days to fortnight earlier than
Isabella. The quality lie excellent 1t rpencd its
fruit last fall, on the south side Of my house
vine procured and set the same season.
The three grapes mentioned above, form q class
by themselves, ranking in quality far above other
native varieties thus far tested Some other vare.
ties trial, may prove their title to place
in same class
Other varieties are we'll worth cultvating in all
our gardens, account Of their earlnes., produc
ivenes,, large size and good quality. One Of the
best (pcrhap, the ocst,) Of these is the Hartford
Prolific. Of this variety Hon Marshall P. Wilder
says in letter 10 the writer " 1t is the best Early
vino, for this climate, I havo proved-frco from
mildew, and sure t. rpcn with you" This variety
ripcned perfectly in Mr.. Tracy garden, in Wind
last year.
The Concord has, unquestionnbly, boon too Ugh
~ cxtolled by some, AMI too summarily condemned
by others In quality it does not differ essentially
from the Isabella, when both fully ripe With
nc il urovcs about two wosh. carlier than thnt VA