The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-12-28
Agricultural.
The Delaware Grape.
iron TEE PREss.l

plate of delaware Grapes" They
were entered and displayed, solely, that
the citizens Of our County who had
this variety of grapes growing-and
there are many thus fortunate-might
know that they bad this, the most de-
licious of all our hardy grapes.
Honorable mention is made of this
plate Of grapes in the report of the
judge on fruit, but they call them the
" French. wine Grapes" This very
much annoyed and Vexed me; it de-
feated my efforts in giving the true
name to the grape, and also made me
appear an ignoramous; setting myself
up for a teacher; who must be pat
down. 1t would not have been SO
humiliating had / not put my name on
the card Of display. I did this, be-
cause knew that there were several
names by which this grape is known
which is matter of regret, and be-
ing on the ground, / thought perhaps
there might be some who would want
to know why I called it the Della
ware" and would ask me the reason.
On seeing this report of the judges
on fruit, in the Hunterdon Democrat,
[ Immediately wrote an article and
sent to that editor, setting forth the
merits of this question, giving some
what of history of this grape, and
my authority for calling it the Della
ware. The editor of that journal saw
proper not to publish it, and there tie
matter has rested until now.
Downing, in his description Of Amer
lean fruits, says of the Delaware grape,
Our best hardy table grape. Bunch,
small, very compact, and generally
shouldered. Berries, smallish, round
when not compressed. Skin thin, of.
beautiful light.red or flesh color, very
translucent, passing to wine color by
long keeping. 1t is without hardness
or acidity in its pulp, exceedingly
sweet, but sprightly, vinous and aro-
matte; and is well characterised by Mr..
Prince, as our highest favored and
most delicious hardy grape. 1t is
vigorous grower, an easily and pro-
fuse bearer" He also states that it
was obtained by A. Thomas, of Della
ware, Ohio, from some Germans, who
stated that they had obtained it from
the garden of Paul Fl. Provost, IN
Kingwood Township, Hunterdon Co.,
New Jersey. This latter announce
ment led me to look into the matter,
as within the past two years this grape
has created a good deal of interest
among the lovers of fine fruit. From
specimens obtained of Mr.. P. J. Read
ing, of Frenchtown, in November 1858.
| became satisfied that it was the Del
aware. and from enquiries, heard Of
a number of other vines in different
parts of the County that correspondent
with this description. In September
of this year, | took occasion to visit
several of these vines when they were
in fruit. I found nine in one small
district, three in another, and so on.
We had four bearing vines in Lambert
vile. / know of about thirty, and I
presume there is probably hundred
in our County, and probably not a
dozen owners of these vines know that
they are the Delaware Grape. fonnd
one vine that the gentleman stated he
had planted twenty years ago, and in
most instances | could trace them back
to the Provost garden in Frenchtown.
From three different sections, from
twelve to fifteen miles apart, I obtained
and sent punches of these grapes to
Philadelphia, which went before the
Horticultural Society, and were pro-
nounced unqualifedly the delaware
Grape )" and also to R. S. Fields,
Esq, Of Pricneton, who took them to
the State Fair at Elizabeth, and ex-
hibited them to several gentleman,
interested in fruit culture, who, with
him all pronounced them the Della
ware" This was my authority for
calling it the Delaware Grape, and
exhibiting it as such.
/ found the grape in different Sec
tions called by different names. The
Powell, italian wine, French wine,
Raisin and Pink Grape. To do away
with this varied, and incorrect nomen-
clature, and establish the true name,-
as above stated took some of them
to the "Fair," as being the quickest
and surest method of securing so de-
sirable result, but my loves labor
was lost" in the manner described, and
now, to attain this same object / wish
to avail myself of your columns. In.
deed, it may prove of pecuniary val
ne to some Of your readers. One
gentleman some fifteen miles above us,
had succeeded in growing three vines
from cuttings-they do not grow well
from cuttings-and sold them to tree
peddler for ten cents each, when they
were. worth from two to three dollars
apiece, as they sell readily from two to
Gvo dolIore