RAPES had a peculiarly unfav orable year in 1889, mildew and rot making unusual ravages in our vineyards. During no year in the last decade has the season been so unpro-pitious. Among the most successful of our varieties in 1889 were the Concord, Worden and Ives, notably the latter. This withstood all the untoward influences best of all the vine is strong and healthy, the clusters nearly perfect, and when fully ripe it is fairly good, though inferior to the Concord and much inferior to the Worden as a table grape.

The Concord is still to be regarded as the standard vineyard grape on account of its good cluster, its good shipping qualities, and its demand in market; but for home use or a near market the Worden is better.

The Cambridge is another grape so nearly like the Concord, its parent, as not to be worth carrying as a distinct variety.

The Cottage another Concord seedling, is a good one, a little earlier than Concord, and much sweeter, but not having as good clusters and on the whole not to be largely planted.

The Hartford is a prolific grape of fair quality, but drops too easily from the cluster for a shipping grape.

Moore's Early seems to be the best early black grape for shipping, so far.

The Herbert, Rogers' No. 44, for home use, ripening with the Worden, is large, beautiful and excellent; in our opinion one of the best, if not the best of all Rogers' grapes.

The Aminia, Rogers' No. 39, is another early grape deserving a place among desirable grapes.

The Barry, No. 43, is another excellent grape.

The Brighton easily ranks first among red grapes. It wants better care and culture than Concord, and where it is fully at home is far better than the Concord. It is early and delicious; but should be used while of an amber color : when the color deepens toward a purple it deteriorates rapidly in quality.

The Delaware is a most excellent grape, but needs double the enrichment, care and culture of the Concord ; clusters should only be grown on long new arms to secure a superior crop.

The Lindley grape is very fine in quality, but not profitable in the vineyard.

The Agawam and Salem, Rogers' Nos. 15 and 53, are in the same category - neither one profitable in a vineyard.

The Diana is a superior grape under favorable circumstances ; it needs a warm, deep but not too rich soil, and a southern exposure. The south side of a building is best. The bunches are compact; berries of moderate size, with a peculiar musky flavor, and one of the very best keepers.

For a deep strong border and the south side of a building, the Catawba is one of the finest red grapes. The fruit should be grown on young, strong arms not more than 20 to 25 lbs. to the vine, and packed like the Diana for winter use.

The same may be said of the Isabella, which is our favorite grape for the table; but it needs the shelter of a building or wall.

The Iona is a most delicious grape, but has so much foreign blood in it as to be absolutely unreliable. This came from Dr. Grant as a native grape. A grape nearly or quite identical with the Iona was sent years ago from Austria, by an American gentleman, to the late David Clark, of Hartford, and to Dr. Grant, of Iowa. If not identical with the Iona, the Iona may have been a seedling from it. But whatever its origin, in New England it is a failure.

The Jefferson as a vineyard grape with us is an emphatic failure.

The same may be said of the Prentiss and Empire State.

Of the Vergennes we planted an entire row, some 33 vines, believing it would be a success; but it has been a disappointment. It is a most excellent keeper, but winter-kills in our vineyard and is quite subject to mildew. Should not be planted in open vineyard but have shelter.

The Bacchus as a wine grape is desirable. It is much like the Clinton, but we think better.

Wyoming Red we think has merit as an early red grape, but we have not yet so fully tested it as to speak with full confidence.

Of Woodruff Red we can only say it promises well.

The Pearl, Othello, El Dorado, Quassiac, Secretary, Excelsior, Ariadne, Waverly, Rebecca, Montgomery, Missouri Reisling, Canada, Autuchon, Arnolds' No. 2 and No. 8, Black Pearl, Black Hawk, Black Eagle, Beauty, can all be left out to the advantage of the practical vineyardist.

The Pocklington, Martha, Lady and Hayes succeed in our vineyard, So does the Niagara, though not as hardy as the Pocklington.

The Green Mountain promises well, is very early; the best early grape we have yet tasted, but needs testing further to ascertain its general adaptability to vineyard planting. If it succeeds as a vineyard grape, it will be a great boon. It is certainly worthy of careful trial in widely varied locations throughout the country.

Middlefield, Ct. P. M. Augur.