Little known in cultivation, although it has been grown since 1870 and has had the recommendations of our most expert horticulturists, Downing is well worthy a place in the garden of grape-growers at least. [Illustration: DOWNING] Its high quality, handsome appearance, and excellence as a keeper, make it desirable in all regions where the climate is sufficiently temperate to allow it to withstand the winter and to develop in full its admirable fruit characters. Added to the above qualities are fair vigor and health of vine, while with its defects must be mentioned late ripening and susceptibility to mildew in unfavorable seasons. When grown in most parts of New York the vine of Downing should be laid down in the winter or receive other protection. In most seasons, too, unremitting warfare must be kept up with bordeaux mixture to check mildew. In appearance of bunch and berry Downing is one of the most distinct of our varieties, the clusters being large and well formed and the berries having the long oval shape of a Malaga with a delicate light bloom. The flesh, too, shows _Vitis vinifera_ in texture as well as quality while neither seeds nor skins are as objectionable as in the best of our pure-bred American varieties. Few amateurs realize the richness of our cultivated grape-flora or the garden would be supplied by other varieties than Concord, Niagara and Delaware and of these Downing would be one. J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York, originated Downing some time about 1865. It is one of the first of Ricketts' hybrids and was first known as _Ricketts' No. 1._ The parentage is variously given as Isabella fertilized by Muscat Hamburg, Croton fertilized by Black Hamburg, and Israella fertilized by Muscat Hamburg.[183] The last combination is that given by J. G. Burrows of Fishkill, New York, who was connected with J. H. Ricketts in his work and who introduced Downing in 1883; hence it is probably correct. Ricketts thought highly of this variety and gave it the name of America's great pomologist, Charles Downing. Vine variable in vigor, usually winter-kills somewhat, not very productive, especially where it winter-kills. Canes short, few, rather slender, nearly dark green to slightly ash-gray tinge, surface covered with thin blue bloom, often roughened with few small warts; nodes much enlarged, strongly flattened; internodes medium to short; diaphragm rather thick; pith large to medium; shoots glabrous; tendrils intermittent, of average length, bifid to trifid.