As it is sometimes amusing, and oftener perplexing, to the readers of the Horti-culturist to determine whose experience is worth the most, I am willing to take my share of criticism on observations made over a wide extent of territory, as I have eaten grapes and tasted wine from Palestine to America. In Palestine the vine grows almost without care. The time has been when it might have received care, but at the present time, being filled with Moslems, to whom the use of wine is forbidden, the vine is neglected, and the art of wine-making slighted. The fruit is fair, and the wine is excellent. The vine is planted mostly on the hillsides, and mildew is almost unknown.

In Persia the grapes grow to a great size, are good eating, but, for some, reason, do not make first-rate wine. The vine receives no care after planting, which is done mostly on the hillsides, of which there are many, and I never saw or heard of mildew in Persia.

The splendid grapes I ate in Turkey are pleasant memories. They receive no care, and, when planted on the hillsides, do not mildew. As they are superior without care, they would well reward labor and enterprise.

In Greece the vine receives some care, and, although they have no extra variety, are passable, and make a fair wine. No mildew on the hillsides, and but little elsewhere.

In Spain they make a good wine of almost any grape. I did not have time to experiment, but was told that almost every grape brought into this country changes its nature to an astonishing degree - some better, and some worse. No mildew, except when planted on low, flat land., some good wine, and some that is no better than English wine. The vine is well cared for, and mildew sometimes makes its appearance on low land, but not on the hillsides. The French reason is, that as there is a greater circulation of air on the hills, the superfluous moisture is carried away before it can injure the vine. These remarks are appropriate to Germany, except that most flat land is of the same soil as the hills, and there are more grapes on the levels than in France. No mildew to speak of.

There are some excellent grapes in Switzerland, but the wine is not the best, as wine-making is overdone by adding too much water and sugar. No mildew on hillsides, or anywhere else, except when carelessly planted where the soil is damp or springy.

England is on the same line with America, and everybody knows how they do here - set poor vines in a poor place, give them poor care, if any (I speak of a class), and finish by-saying "we can't raise grapes." With a good soil and good climate - with a greater variety than any other country, allowing six tenths to be worthless, leaves us kinds enough, which, if selected with judgment and cared for with the energy that characterizes the American people, will make America as good a wine country as any on the globe.

The rush for new kinds is a great waste of time, and is keeping us a hundred years behind the times. We are foolishly waiting for perfection, as every candid man knows that a thousand years from this date people will disagree in regard to the merits of some certain grape. If you plant a good kind, and give it the right care, you will be satisfied with the result, even though you be an American.

Grapes #1

I wish this writer would import a little of the climate of Persia, Turkey, and Greece, and distribute it among our vine growers, so as to enable them to avoid mildew, etc., which unfortunately is too much a disease and trouble in this country.

The writer says, "We have kinds enough, throwing aside six tenths as worthless, that selected with judgment and cared for with the energy of American people, will make America as good a wine country as any on the globe." Please, Mr. E. H., select us out those four tenths, and tell us the right care, and I will guarantee to have the labor performed.

Grapes #2

We suppose every cottage gardener has got some grapes well planted in his garden; if not, it certainly is one of the most important subjects that need early attention. It is just as easy to grow a good grape as a poor one, the room occupied is no greater, while the value is often double For instance, who would grow a Union Village, Souppernong or Adirondac, when the old standard sort, Isabella, far surpasses them; and then, too, this is superseded by the good old Concord or Delaware. A well ripened Isabella is not by any means to be despised. And those dainty palates who declare the Concord is too poor to be worthy of encouragement, can hardly act as judges for the tastes of a million others of their countrymen. The Concord is the best and most reliable family grape we have yet found. Not equal, it is true, to some of more delicate or spirited flavor, but good enough for average palates.

If we were planting a new garden, we would line the garden path with at least a dozen good vines. The Concord would be first on our list, then we would try one vine Delaware. It might do well, and still might prove a failure. But it is worth the trial. We would have room for a luscious Salem, and also for the Eumelan, beautiful in its growth and flavor. We would not forget the Walter, and the Senasqua we know would prove a good occupant of our ground. Here then we have the cream of all, both old and new. We could always depend upon a good dish of fruit from the Concord, and our selection of this variety would be one-half the whole list. Then follow with the new and improved sorts, and the garden owner will have all the best worthy of reasonable recommendation.

Grapes #3

I have filled my assortment of grapes with Rebeccas, Maxatawneys, Delawares, and Catawbas, none of which are in bearing yet. Meanwhile, the eighteen vines of Concords have yielded about ten bushels of fruit, showing the heaviest clusters and largest berries of this variety that I have seen outside of the picture-books.

Grapes #1

We are surfeited with grapes; the air is actually perfumed with their fragrance as we pass along the roads ; Concords mostly, though we have some other varieties doing quite well. The Northern Muscatine appeared in our market quite plenty, and sold readily a little higher than Concords, for its sweetness, which outdoes its fineness a little. Some of the Rogers are doing well; No. 15, No. 4 and Salem, I am well pleased with. No. 1 is now ripening the best of all, and its usual season was as early as September 10, but in this climate it is usually too late. The Ives is very promising for an early grape, seven to ten days earlier than Concords. I have fruited the Martha this year, and am well pleased with it.

SUEL F0STER.

Muscatine, Iowa.

Grapes #1

The grape may be admitted pretty freely into the smallest gardens, because the vines may be trained over the fences, upon arbors, or against the sides of buildings.

A rather dry, deep and rich soil is requisite. Then start with young, thrifty vines, avoiding the one almost universal error of permitting the vines to overbear. Haste in this has ruined more vines than disease; but there is safety in the free use of the pruning knife in fall or winter, according to locality. The very best varieties are usually the most uncertain; therefore, safety bids me to put Concord at the head of the list. Then one may add a Delaware, Iona, and, perhaps, a vine of the old Isabella, if in some favored locality. Of course, there are hundreds of other sorts which are good or excellent in particular locations; but experience alone can determine their value.