292 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ripens first, is a very good grape, but drops its fruit from stem ; vine hardy 

 and productive. Worden's Seedling ripens about the same time, is richer and 

 better, and holds its fruit. Massasoit (Rogers' 3), early, sweet, and a good 

 bearer; is a very good keeper. Wilder (Rogers' 4), comes next. Merrimac 

 (No. 19), about the same ; they are both excellent bearers, large clusters, both 

 dark. Wilder holds its fruit, — thick skin, sweet, very large berries, will keep 

 until spring. No. 19 drops its fruit, — it is sweet and juicy, thin skin, clusters 

 often weighing one pound, will not keep long. Lindley (No. 9), a red grape, 

 not large, very sweet and high-flavored, good keeper. Goethe (No. 7), a white 

 or nearly so, a little too late for this climate. Agawam (Rogers' 15), a very 

 productive grape, juicy, sweet, aromatic flavor, a splendid keeper. Salem, the 

 best of the Rogers, is the richest flavor, always heavily fruited ; is the best 

 keeper, or as good as Wilder. Martha, a small white grape, very sweet and 

 early, will not keep. Perkins, flesh -colored, sweet, musky, drops its fruit. 

 Concord is well known, — I need say nothing about it, only in my estimation it 

 is third-class. Senasqua, a large, black grape, surpasses the Wilder in flavor, a 

 vigorous grower, large clusters, large berries, sweet and juicy, a good keeper. 

 Walter is the sweetest I have in my collection, a red grape, not large, fine 

 flavor, skin thin, subject to blight. Delaware, a good bearer, small fruit, and 

 good keeper. Diana, a red grape, larger than Delaware; compact bunches, 

 sweet, a peculiar flavor, a good keeper. This with several other varieties I had 

 some time in March, this spring, in my cellar. My mode of keeping is spread- 

 ing for a couple of weeks on shelves only perfect ripe clusters, not breaking a 

 berry, and lay them in boxes. I use pasteboard boxes, rolling each cluster in 

 paper, or putting in layers with paper between, and closing the boxes. If a 

 grape molds and comes in contact with others they will do the same, and by 

 rolling separate clusters they retain their flavor better and keep better. 



This is my experience in grape-raising. Any new suggestions from the 

 society will be very gratefully received, for I consider it the duty of all fruit- 

 growers to cultivate only the best varieties, that our State may become an equal 

 ■with western New York. 



F. B. Johnson said, unless he had been erroneously instructed, the richest 

 soil is not desirable for grapes. It would cause the vines to make so rank a 

 growth that they would be more liable to winter kill. 



Mr. White said his grapes were on a very rich soil, and had never been 

 injured by the winter. 



Mr. Curtis claimed that the Concord was the grape for this region, and was 

 not affected by the coldest winters. 



F. B. Johnson gave an extempore talk on "Marketing Small Fruits." He 

 showed that the dealer who sold by liquid measure violated the law and incurred 

 a severe penalty. He said there were about 4| quarts difference in a bushel 

 between liquid and dry measure. He thought the law ought to be enforced. 



A paper was read by A. L. Bours on "The Kitchen Garden." He was 

 followed by F. A. Gulley on "Onions for Profit." He spoke from brief notes, 

 and at the close, was unanimously requested to write out the substance of his 

 remarks, for publication. 



June Meeting. 



The Society met at the court-house in the city of Mason. The programme 

 for the meeting was as follows : 



"Pruning and Training Grape Vines," by Dr. A. D. Brown. 



