that the “one cluster of grapes” which the burdened spies, returning from Palestine, bore “between two of them upon a staff,” was the result of high scientific culture.  In that clime, and when the world was young, Nature must have been more beneficent than now.  It 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 and foxes (when not hanging so high as to be sour), that we have developed the delicious varieties of our out-door 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 American fruit-growers took the hint, and began developing our native species.  Then Nature smiled; and as a lure along this correct path of progress, gave such incentives as the Isabella, the Catawba, and Concord.  We are now bewildered by almost as great a choice of varieties from native species as they have abroad; and as an aid to selection I will again give the verdict of some of the authorities.

The choice of the Hon. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture:  “Early Victor, Worden, Martha, Elvira, Cynthiana.”  This is for the region of Missouri.  For the latitude of New Jersey, A.S.  Fuller’s selection:  “Delaware, Concord, Moore’s Early, Antoinette (white), Augusta (white), Goethe (amber).”  E.S.  Carmen:  “Moore’s Early [you cannot praise this too much.  The quality is merely that of the Concord; but the vines are marvels of perfect health, the bunches large, the berries of the largest size.  They ripen all at once, and are fully ripe when the Concord begins to color], Worden, Brighton, Victoria (white), Niagara (white), El Dorado. [This does not thrive everywhere, but the grapes ripen early—­September 1, or before—­and the quality is perfection—­white.]” Choice of P.J.  Berckman, for the latitude of Georgia:  “White grapes—­Peter Wylie, Triumph, Maxatawny, Scuppernong.  Bed grapes—­Delaware, Berckman’s, Brighton.  Black—­ Concord, Ives.”

As I have over a hundred varieties in bearing, I may venture to express an opinion also.  I confess that I am very fond of those old favorites of our fathers, the Isabella and Catawba.  They will not ripen everywhere in our latitude, yet I seldom fail to secure a good crop.  In the fall of 1885 we voted the Isabella almost unsurpassed.  If one has warm, well-drained soil, or can train a vine near the south side of a building, I should advise the trial of this fine old grape.  The Iona, Brighton, and Agawam also are great favorites with me.  We regard the Diana, Wyoming Red, Perkins, and Rogers’ hybrids, Lindley, Wilder, and Amenia, as among the best.  The Rebecca, Duchess, Lady Washington, and Purity are fine white grapes.  I have not yet tested the Niagara.  Years ago I obtained of Mr. James Ricketts, the prize-taker for seedling grapes, two vines of a small wine grape called the Bacchus.  To my taste it is very pleasant after two or three slight frosts.