First I would notice the Delaware as that at least has been more fully tested than the others. When I first saw it (some five or six years since) I was so favorably impressed with its beauty and excellence, that I immediately procured a vine and recommended it to my friends, being confident from the ripening of the wood almost to the ends of the shoots, that it would prove hardy and be an acquisition on account of its carliness as a first-rate table and dessert fruit, prulitable for marketing and vineyard culture. At first it was small in berry and bunch and apparently but a feeble grower, having been subjected for many years to unfavorable circumstances which had dwarfed its habit, but not entirely obscured its excellence. But our friend A. Thompson of Delaware, Ohio, who under such unfavorable circumstances did nut fail to detect its fine qualities, and who first brought into notice, deserves the thanks of every lover of good fruit. And now that the prediction made to my friends upon its first introduction has been more than realized, I will venture another; that is, the time is not far distant, perhaps at our next Pomological Congress, when all will esteem it a pleasure to award praise to a deserving public benefactor.

It is not, too, a feeble grower and so unproductive as has been represented, as a few statistics will show. My own vine, without any extra cultivation, has made a fine, growth of well ripened wood, and presented a mass of thoroughly ripened fruit, such as is seldom seen on any other native variety of the same age; but before I counted the bunches they were stolen and the loss keenly felt. My adjoining neighbor has a vine four years old which has borne this season 70 bunches of well ripened fruit proving very satisfactory, and $100 was offered for the vine but refused. Another neighbor, on a vine of five years of age with twenty shoots averaging ten feet in length, has 60 bunches, that for size and beauty were a sight worth going many miles to see Another adjoining neighbor has vines commencing to bear freely, and last full he showed his opinion of the grape and bis regard for a most interesting family of children, by purchasing fifty more Delaware vines for his family use; they were good vines and well treated, and under such management never disappoint the grower.

Of the quality of its fruit all who became acquainted with it agree in awarding it the highest praise; it is sugary, aromatic, and refreshing, and never cloys.

Delaware #1

What shall we say of the Delaware? Almost every one has his vine growing, but the growth is decidedly slow. Of the superiority of the fruit, there can be no doubt. It will disappoint many on account of its smallness of berry; as to its hardiness, there appears to be but one opinion. Every one who feels the slightest interest in the success of the American grape, should have a vine of Delaware; but we cannot recommend it for vineyard culture, at least not yet, at $5 per layer. [You can get it for much less; and ought to get it, even at that. - Ed].

The Delaware #2

Mr. Samuel B. Parsons, of Flushing, writing from Brattle-borough, Vt., says: "I saw at Springfield a Delaware vine three years planted, bearing one hundred and sixty bunches, many of them five inches in length".

That will do, even for the Delaware.

Delaware #3

Clusters small and compact; berries small and round, light red, juicy, pulpless, and very sweet; is an excellent table grape, and will become popular for wine-making. It is subject to mildew; has proved a slender grower at Washington, where it ripens late in August; but the testimony of cultivators is conflicting on this head. It is hardy, and adapted to the middle and northern states.

Delaware #4

The talk of Delaware being a "feeble grower," I think, may as well be given up. With me this season (third one) it has made strong shoots of ten feet of well ripened wood.

The size can be nearly doubled by thinning, if wished, though I do not think its smallness an objection, if eaten as my little girl taught me they should be, bitten, gnawed, from the bunch; not picked one by one with the fingers.

October 20, 1862. Brooklyn.

[We have no doubt that Mr. Downing has accurately described the Concord as he had it before him. When it first came out it was very pungent and musky, and is so still in some places, and under indifferent treatment. Thickness of skin depends a good deal upon culture; much more so than grape growers seem to realize. We have eaten Isabellas with the skin almost as tough as leather. Good culture will render the skins of many grapes tender, while neglect will toughen them. This is not so with all kinds; because nature has put a hide on some which she never intended should be susceptible of such influences. You can put the ergo to this, if you like, and conclude that you grow your grapes well. Do it. The "feeble growth" of the Delaware has at last become a very feeble argument; it will soon die out. Good vines, under good treatment, always make a good growth, if you will excuse the alliteration. Your little girl knows how to eat Delaware. A friend recently told us that his family eat them as they do green corn from the cob. - Ed].

Delawares #5

The Delaware is a very popular grape among the better classes, who admire them for their beauty and sweetness, but it is too small for general use. The Eastern people are our best customers for this variety, and the wine cellars buy it in large quantities to sweeten their other wines.