THE close of the year we propose to signalize by putting upon record our estimate of the Delaware Grape, not ostentatiously, but in few and simple words, and where all may see it. Our opinion of the Delaware, indeed, has been pretty well made up for five years past; but having been requested by friends who differ from us to give the subject another sea-eon's consideration, and examine the vine under a variety of soils and locations, we consented to do so, and the result has made us firmer in our faith. Some three years since, in a Fruit Committee report, we pronounced the Delaware the "King of the Natives," which expression did not seem to please the officers of the institute for whom we acted, and one exhibiter threatened never to exhibit again if such things were allowed ! It is a matter of congratulation, however, that the world will move without such men, and notwithstanding all their efforts to impede its progress.

We wished to form our estimate of the Delaware as a grape adapted for general cultivation, and accordingly put ourself in communication with intelligent grape-growers in various sections of the country, avoiding mostly those engaged in the sale of plants; and the result has been a singular unanimity in regard to the character and hardiness of the grape, wherever it is grown. Our own experience has been, that it is perfectly hardy and very productive, and this experience has been confirmed by a personal examination extending over a considerable extent of country. But let us be a little more precise in regard to its hardiness, as this is a very important point. Throughout the Middle States the point seems to be generally conceded, the exceptions, so far as we can learn, being confined to weak young plants. The north-west, however, would seem to be the point where its hardiness would be put to the severest test. From this point, the testimony, fortunately, is favorable, and the Delaware, in this respect, takes rank with the hardiest The testimony, it may be added, is not precisely uniform, but it is so general, that the exceptions may fairly be referred to causes extrinsic to the hardiness of the vine itself.

The simple truth is, that the Delaware, in the process of propagation, has been manipulated to a degree that would have destroyed the principle of vitality in almost any other known variety; but this, we have reason to believe, will prove to be only a temporary inconvenience in the Delaware, such is its constitutional vigor. On the whole, we are warranted in concluding that the Delaware is adapted to the western and north-western sections of our country, to the degree at least to which the grape is now cultivated.

In regard to the South, there can be no doubt, as respects either its hardiness of its fitness, for it is grown there in the greatest perfection, as we have had good reason to know during the past season. There can be little doubt, moreover, in regard to the New England States, to a part of which we have given a personal examination; and we have testimony from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, all in its favor. In regard to its hardiness, therefore, we think we are warranted in saying that the Delaware is adapted to general cultivation.

The next point we shall examine is its vigor. It has been objected to the Delaware by some, that it is a weak grower, producing only small and slender shoots. That it is often found making a slender growth is not denied; but this is sufficiently accounted for by the manner in which it has been propagated, and by improper planting. In the course of a couple of years it recovers its vigor, and grows as well as the Catawba or Isabella, and, in our own experience, much better. But even with its present tenuity it will make a good growth the first season, when judiciously and carefully planted. We have directed the planting of a considerable number during the past season; the plants were mostly eyes one year old, and the growth has been from four to six feet of good wood about a quarter of an inch in diameter; in some cases the growth has considerably exceeded this. In many instances of failure, the ground has been badly prepared, and the vines carelessly planted; where these points have been attended to, the result, so far as we know, has been entirely satisfactory. We have seen vines four and five years old, in thoroughly prepared ground, where the growth has been quite equal to that of the Isabella of the same age.

Judging, then, from what we have seen, and from our own experience, we must conclude that the Delaware is unexceptionable in point of constitutional vigor.

As intimately connected with this point, we shall next allude to the charge of mildew, to which, it is said, the Delaware is peculiarly liable. We have given no inconsiderable share of attention to this point, as pertaining to the vine generally; and we are compelled to say, that all vines, under certain conditions, are more or less liable to some form of it. Without anticipating a subject which we shall at some future time treat specially, we may as well here state our conviction, that the mildew, so called, will, as the number of vineyards increase, constitute one of the most formidable enemies with which the vine-grower will have to contend; and it is well that he should know it, and prepare himself for it. The past season has been one in which the mildew has prevailed to a greater extent than we have ever known it before; probably none of our native vines have been entirely free from it in some locality or other. According to our observation, no special charge can be made against the Delaware in this respect; on the contrary, where found growing promiscuously with other kinds, it has, in many cases, formed an exception.

On the whole, we sum up by deciding that the charge against the Delaware of being specially liable to mildew, is not sustained.

The next point to which we shall direct our attention is that of fruitfulness. It has been urged by some as a serious objection to the Delaware, that it is not productive, and that the bunches and berries are very small. In regard to this, we presume that no intelligent vine-grower will claim that any vine that has been propagated to the extent that the Delaware has, or, indeed, any young vine, will in its early stages give any just indication of its maximum productiveness. Age is necessary to the vine, in order that it may yield it best results. We are inclined to believe that the Delaware has been underrated, in this respect, by a great many. It must be admitted that the bunches and berries are small, though not as small as some have supposed, In vines that have attained to the age of five years, the bunches approach what is called medium size; but in weight of fruit from a given surface or number of vines, the Delaware surpasses both the Isabella and Catawba. A Delaware vine in full bearing is, indeed, a beautiful sight; one that we 'have never seen equalled among all our native grapes.

In view of these facts, we can not consider the size of the Delaware a serious objection to it; still we can not help sympathizing with those who wish that the bunches and berries were both larger.

We shall next pass to the point of its nativity which has been the source of a prolonged and warm controversy. As before stated, we have deferred publishing our opinion of the Delaware in these pages out of deference to friends who had requested us to examine it during another season. We have done so, and we are more than ever confirmed in the opinion expressed several years ago, that the Delaware is a native. With such testimony as we have before us, we can arrive at no other conclusion. If we ever had a doubt lingering in our mind, it has been dissipated by an examination of the seedlings raised from the Delaware. We can not go into an examination of our reasons here, as this article already exceeds the length we have assigned to our leaders; but we shall do so in a separate article. We may state briefly here, however, that our opinion has been arrived at from the fact that many of the seedlings of the Delaware show unmistakable evidence of reverting back to the native (American) type, especially in the texture and pubescence of the leaves; that the hardiness, habit, foliage, etc, of the Delaware itself indicate a native origin; that the peculiar division of the pulp and skin, as found in the Delaware, is characteristic of our native grapes; that it has traces of the peculiar aroma of the native grape, etc, etc.

We believe that the Delaware is of the same parentage as the Catawba, and that the Diana is a connecting link between them, the last and the Delaware having not a few points in common. It was sought at one time to identify the Delaware with the Red Traminer, but this, we believe, has been abandoned, since they are quite distinct from each other in wood, foliage, and fruit. Some of our friends will not agree with us, probably, in our opinion of the nativity of the Delaware; but we can differ from them, we trust, without impairing our respect for their honest convictions.

Our last point relates to quality, and here, with a very few exceptions, all opposition to the Delaware fairly breaks down. It ought to be considered an impeachment of a man's good taste to doubt its excellence. We want a class of grapes of the first excellence, productive, and so hardy as to be suited for cultivation in all sections of the country; and the Delaware, in our opinion, possesses these requirements to a greater degree than any other grape that we have. For this reason we shall adopt it as the standard of excellence by which to judge all new comers. It possesses the merit of being not only our best table grape, but also the best for wine, in the estimation of such men as Messrs. Mottier, Schnicke, and others, whose testimony to this effect we shall soon lay before our readers. It is pleasant to find the great mass agreed on one point at least in regard to the Delaware. Its melting tenderness, its delicious sweetness, and its delicate vinous spirit, gladden the heart of all who eat it. We claim for it the merit of being the first American grape to truly educate and form the public taste. But it may be said that all do not consider it equally good; we know there are some who, without denying its high qualities, think that it has been overestimated.

Its excellence has certainly been lauded in exalted terms, and we must confess that we delight to sing its praises. It carries us a long way up the classic mount, and makes us familiar with such food as the Olympians may be supposed to have delighted in. With it we can be consent till another shall give us a taste of something more celestial.