The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-28
More New Grapes.

There was q time, not many years since
when to speak of new grapes would com
mand the attention Of many an eager list
ener. Those days are past, but will come
again when those who lost money in try.
ing foolish experiments have forgotten it
and new class Of cultivators come upor
the stage with as much enterprise, if nc
more wisdom, than those who may be
compelled to step aside. Each little peri.
odical excitement which may occur from
time to time, in regard to the cultivating Of
any particular kind of fruit, usually ADDS
something to our store of knowl-
edge and more or less to our wealth as O
nation. The grape fever" as it is some
times called, which prevailed throughout
the country some ten years ago, left us
with knowledge of number of most ex-
cellent grape-growing regions of country
of which we knew scarcely nothing before.
Many extensive vineyards were established
during the period named, from which our
markets are now supplied with most ex-
cellent fruit, all the result of what many
believe was al unwarranted excitement,
produced through the over-praising of new
sorts, as well as over estimate of the pro-
fits of culture. But that good has come
out Of our grape mania, all, we think,
will admit, and that the benefits
are to continue is equally apparent. In no
one direction do we see the benefits crop
ping out SO conspicuously as in the line OF
new seedlings, and especially in the pro-
duction of hybrids. 1t is only few
years since that many of our really good
horticulturists doubted the existence or
practicability of producing true hybrid
varieties; but few grape growers
(amateurs, mainlv0 believed that better
varieties and greater progress could be
made by hybridizing thar. simply depending
upon natural variations, and to this end
they have used their knowledge of vegeta-
BILE physiology and skill with, in many
instances, most excellent results.
Allen, Arnold, Campbell, Rogers, Wy
lie, are names well known in connection
with new hybrid sorts; but for careful,
scientific manipulation, extent and number
OF experiments, with strict record of
each, ending in the most satisfactory and
often astonishing results, Mr.. j. H. Rick
etts, of Newburg, New York. seems to
have excelled all competitors in this field.
This, to some, may seem to be too great
praise even for good work; but we speak
advisedly and more freely in regard to this
gentleman's labors than we should have
done had he ever sought it at our hands or
In any way to push the results of his labors
and skill into p ublic notice.
Having for several years past watched
the progress made by him in this compar-
atively new field, we speak from personal
knowledge of his operations and results.
Further than this, Mr.. Ricketts, has not
offered his new sorts for sale, as usual in
such cases, before their merits were fully
known; in fact, we believe his earliest.
and perhaps some of the best of his hv-
birds have not as yet been disseminated,
except few vines placed in the hands Of
personal friends for the purpose of testing
their value in different soils and localities.
Therefore, what we have said and may
have occasion to say in regard to the varie-
ties produced by this gentleman, is no more
than we consider due him and American
grape culture. We should be pleased to
have occasion to say as much about score
or more Of just such men and the products
Of their skill and labors.-Rural Ne,o
Yorker.