The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-27
About Grapes.

N.
It is said that about two thousand known and
named varieties OF grapes have been and are be-
ing grown in Europe, and oil these are supposed
to nave been developed from one species Wits
vinifera), which originally was the wild product
of nature, like those growing in our thickets
and forests. One can scarcely suppose this pos
sible when contemplating cluster of Tokay or
some other highly-developed variety of the hot
yield fruit after his kind the third
day. Whatever may have been the
length Of that day., may have been,
after all. good starting-pon in the process
of development. One can hardly believe that the
lone cluster of grapes" which the burdened spies,
returning from Palestine, borne ''between two of
them upon staff" was the result of high scien-
tifc culture. In that cline, and when the world
was young, nature must have been more
benefcent than now. 1t is certain that no such
cluster ever hung from the native vines of this
land, yet it is from our wild species, whose fruit
the Indians shared with the birds aud foxes
when not hanging so high as to be sour). that
we have developed the delicious varieties of our
outdoor vineyards For about two centuries our
forefathers kept on planting vines imported from
Europe, only to meet with failure. Nature that
had so abundantly rewarded their efforts abroad,
quietly checkmated them here. At last Arneri-
can fruit growers took the hint, and began devel-
oping our native species. Then nature smiled,
and as a lure along this correct path of progress
gave such incentives as the Isabella. the Ca
tawba ami Concord. We are now bewildered by
almost as great choice of varieties from native
species as they have abroad, and as an aid to
selection will again give the verdict of some Of
the authorities.
The choice of Hon. Norman J. Colman, Com
missioner of Agriculture. EARLY Victor, Wor-
den, Martha, Elvira Cynthiana." This is for
Jersey, A. S. Fullers selections: Delaware Con-
cord Moores Early Antoinette lwhite), Augusta
(white,, Goethe (arnber.p E. S. Carman:
1Moore's Early lyou cannot praise this too much
The quality is merely that of the Concord; but
the vines are marvels of perfect health.
the punches large, the berries OF the largest
size They ripen all st once, and are
fully ripe when the Concord begins to colorl,
Worden, Brighton, Victoria twhite). Niagara
(whire1 Ell Dorado. This does not thrive
or before-and the quality is Professionalism. ]"
Choice of p j. Berckman, for the latitude Of
Georgia. white grapes-Peter Wylie, Triumph,
Maxataway, Scuppernong Red grapes Della
ware, Berckman's, Brighton. Back-Concord.
Iyes.p
AS have over hundred varHtjes in bearing
may venture to express an opinion also
confess that l am very fond of those old favor
ties Of our fathers the Isabella and Catawba.
They will not ripen everywhere in our latitude,
yet seldom fail to secure good CROP Last
fall we voted the Isabella almost unsurpassed.
II one has warm. we'll drained soil, or can train
vine near the south side of building, l should
advise the trial of this fine old grape The Iona,
Brighton, and Agawam also are great favorites
| wich me- We regard the Diana, Wyom.
ing Red. Perkins. and ROGERS hybrids.
lndsy tho wasF The R s1a
Washington and Purity are fne white grapes.
| have not yet tested the Niagara. Years ago
obtained Of Mr. James Ricketts, the prize taker
| for seeding grapes, two vines OF small wine
grape called the Bacchus. To my taste it is
| very pleasant after two or three slight frosts.
Our list of varieties is long enough, and one
| must be fastidious indeed who does not find
| some to suit his taste. In many localities the
| chief question is, what kind can grows In our
| favored region on the HUDSON almost all the out
| door grapes will thrive, but as we 60 north the
seasons become too cool and short for some
| kinds, and proceeding south the summers are
too long and hot for others. The salt air of the
| sea coast is not conducive to vine culture, and
| only the most vigorous, like the Concord and
| Moores Early, will resist the midew blight
| We must, therefore, do the best we can, and
| that will be very well indeed in most localities
| Because our list of good grapes is already SO
| long, it does not follow that we have reached
| the limit of development by any means. When
| we remember that almost within lifetime our
| line of varieties has been developed from the
| wild northern fox grape Wits labrusca), the
| summer grape tBstivalis), frost (cordifolia), we
are led to think that perhaps We have scarcely
| more than crossed the stile which leads into
the path of progress If should live to keep
| up my little Specimen vineyard ten years long
er. perhaps the greater part of the varieties
/ now cultivated will have given place to others
| The delicious Brighton requires no more space
than sour, defective variety. While the pro-
| prietor starts with the best kinds he can OBJ
! tain, he will find no restraint beyond his own
| ignorance carelessness that will prevent his
replacing the Brighton with variety twice as
/ good when it is developed. Thus vine plan ting
and grape tasting stretch away into an alluring
| and endless vista
There are two kinds of strawberries the bisex-