St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-02-01
FARM AND HOME

~, ,..u young in Farmers e ome Journal.
limo department of science has greater
onrovement been made during the won
derful changes of the past thirty years,
than in horticulture. Varieties of fruits
and flowers have multiplied with amaz>
ing -apidity, and in leaf, flower and fruit,
the growth in color, beauty and merit
has almost surpassed the limits OF imagi-
nation. In horticulture, Americas soil
and climate render her the seat of its
greatest open-air success, and Tor genera
out.door culture of fruits and flowers no
other land can surpass or equal IN United
States Our varied soil and many-de-
greed temperate climate furnish all the
necessary conditions for the production
of the finest fruits and most gorgeous
flowers, and, under recent developments
planting and hybridizing, we have
tights for the eye and treats for the
palate that surpsss the sglories of the
Land of the Sun"
In grape culture has this improvement
been especially noteworthy. Forty-years
ago a few wild specimens and some COM
moner and now almost extinct varieties
were the only grapes that we could point
10 AZ native to our soil. Now we have more
than three hundred well defined varieties,
fully one-third of which merit cultiva.
ton.
The best sof our American grapes for
table use are the result of seeding growths
from the Northern Fox grape, called the
iabrusca class. Among these we have
some splendid varieties, which ysatisfy
every demand for table purposes, and
also make fine wine. From hybridizing
with foreign varieties, we have some
magnificent kinds, chief among sthem
Rogers and A1nold's hybrids; but for
solid substantial worth, for table use, we
must rely upon the Labrusca-the direct
or indirect seedlings of the Northern Fox
grape. The vines are hardy and vigorous,
generally resisting disease; the grapes are
large, with moderate sized punches, and
in flavor, as q class, are the sweetest Of
native kinds. They embrace about thirty
varieties, and include nearly all one can
want in table grapes The principal
kinds of this class are as follows:
Adirondac-Black, large, punches COM
pact, somewhat uneven in size, but of
delicious favor; with me light bearer,
but not fully hardy-requiring winter
protection.
Black Hawk-AssTTspIendid grape, fine
grower, fair size, rather small punches,
but the sweetest of black grapes, and a
vine every one ought to have.
Catawba -Teo we'll known to require
a description. 1t was found wild in
North Carolina, and some years ago in
troduced to general notice by Maj. John
Album, of Georgetown, DC, In his
enthusiasm this gentleman declared, by
introducing this vine, he had done this
country a greater service than if he had
paid its national debt. This was then
undoubtly true. The Catawba was a
great grape, but it has run its course,
and is now yielding the palm to many of
its younger rivals. If anybody would
now like 10 take it and pay the national
debt, we doubt not it would be quickly
disposed of.
Cassady-A round, pale green grape,
immensely productive and very sweet :;
will grow we'll wherever the Catawba
does.
Concord" The grape..for the Million"
taken all in all, the best of American
grapes. Black, vigorous, hardy, pro-
ductive, and, to the uneducated ON
g-ape questions, of fne favor. 1t re-
quires to be full ripe when eaten. 1t
makes good wine ESQ people say who
drink wine), and is one of the largest
and most acknowledging grapes of its
class. Its twenty years trial has only
the more endeared it to the grape. eating
and grape>growing classes.
DIANA Seeding from the Catawba
Berries pale red; punches compact and
moderately large, with very delicate
taste and musk favor. 1t is a very
vigorous grower and shy bearer. When
young it is beautiful grape, but not as
fully hardy as most varieties of its class,
Hartford Prolifc-Long claimed to be
the earliest of coed black grapes. Der
ries rather oblong, lair size; punches
over average; ripens few days in adj
vance of Concord. When fully ripe the
favor is good and quite sweet. The
vines makes enormous growth and the
leaf is very large. 1t produces heavily
but when fully ripe the fruit drops from
the bunch. It was introduced about
twenty-five years ago. Every garden
should have at least one.
Iona-This grape I consider to have
been greatly wronged. It almost equal
the Delaware in flavor, and is mucl
larger; berries inclined to be oval, ane
in color pale red. 1t produces heavily
and is strong grower. The fruit hang
we'll, and in damp localities mildews, bu
with me it has never dropped berry.