The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-26
FARM AND GRANGE
Grape Culture.

Vic SIdpo III MluucSOtd Is Luc ScVcTlly VI
the winter and the necessity we are IN
der of covering the vines during the
cold season, with earth, snow, &C.:
All our valuable American varieties
are either improved wild grapes, or n.y.
bridized varieties, produced 10y crossing
wild grapes with the finer American or
European grapes. This being the case
why cannot our gardeners develop native
Minnesota wild grapes, with which our
woods abound, and thus produce some
valuable varieties capable of enduring
our winters without protection? The
time is approaching when the best of
the wild varieties should be selected
and then removed to the gardens in the
fall for experiment. AS contribution
to the subject we give some interesting
facts upon a we'll informed writer on the
subject.
WHERE OUR IMPROVED VARIETIES CAME
FROM.
The germ of the grape development
now so extensive was the finding of the
Isabella as wild plant, or its produc-
tomas a Seeding, about the year 1918,
by Mrs. Isabella Gibbs, the wife OF
George Gibbs, Esq. Hence the name
Isabella. Soon afterwards Major Ad-
lums of Georgetown, d. c., introduced
the Catawba, a variety found by him in
the Vicinity of the Potomac. The sue
cesslul and extensive cultivation of these
twotvines brought out demand for 9TH
er wildings, which; with certain merits,
have defects that render their culture
Improbable. For a number of years
after this period, as is often the case
likewise in art, literature, science, me.
: lchanics, and in horticulture generally.
the public mind rested satisfied, and
made little or no progress. Again came,
but few years ago, the demand for any
and every wild vine OF our national do
main, requirement that to some seemed
extreme folly, but really producing ben
Gifts whose value is inestimable; for we
hope to show that there are uses OF these
wildings more worthy of attention than
iheir undeveloped excellences. For
certain purposes they still need to be
generally dtfused. Another method OF
improving our native grapes has added
Is influence to the tide of popular sue
,ess, though but few have appreciated
IS distinctive effects. 1t is that system
: ltic production and cultivation of seed
ings which has really given US some of
he best varieties now high in public es-
imation. A third method has been
lsed for improving American grapes
With truly wonderful facility and admi-
able advantages, that Of hybridization.
TO these could be added the practice of
collecting chance seedlings and varie.
les which promise well in their native
ties and submitting them to change of
oil, and to root and branch pruning.
1anures, and repeated propagation, by
,hich the habits and productions of
lants are varied more or less. To
fese two. the systematic seedlings and
ybridization of American grapes, AS
= so of the main sources OF improve
rent and for the radical cure of defects
e shall devote this article; for we be-
EVE there is perfection attainable OF
hich we have hardly just apprecia-
on. In the language of another. 1T
the belief of our most intelligent
rape-growers that American vines will
II produce grapes superior to any in
urOpe their more pronounced flavor
I'D aroma, too harsh. is to be brought
q true perfume. brisk. delicious Ia
Or, superior to the simple sweetness
I'd delicacy of the foreign grape" As
sheep and cattle. no gain can be made
less there is virtue in the parent, an
scellence OF some sort; and hence
. lance seedlings or wild varieties consti-
20 the base on which to operate.
Perhaps no man is more the pioneer in
eding the grape than he whose lam
age just given is an almost perfect
se in the art of systematic seedlings,
Ihraim w. Bull. of Concord. Mass.
Il perhaps there is no one with greater
ksent success in his attempts to fulfill
own well-expressed rule, for the
hcord grape is established before the
bic. and it is monument to him
Ire lasting than marble. 1t incontes,-
h settles the question that by his
khod of propagating the grape new
valuable kinds can be originated
tmust ever staLd as the first one who
81 wild New England vine. brough
b Seeding with intelligent care
thai Seeding. while he was yet IL