ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 289 



Mr. McPike made a fine display of the older grapes, such as 

 Catawba, Concord, Norton's Virginia,- Rulander, Delaware, etc. 



Among the newer varieties exhibited, Niagara and Jewel were 

 much admired for their good quality and handsome appearance. 



Mr. Browne read a paper on grapes, which, being much the 

 same as that read before the State Society, is here omitted. (See 

 page 84.) 



Mr. MePike said that after growing grapes for over twenty 

 years, and much study and experimenting he could now say that the 

 Norton's Virginia and the Cynthiana were the only grapes we could 

 plant here, and be sure of getting annual crops free from rot and 

 mildew. Yet, all things considered, the Concord is the best grape 

 for us to plant until some other grape has been tested and proved 

 superior. Some others, like Goethe, Brighton, etc., can be laid down 

 to protect from the cold, and bagged to prevent rot. These tender 

 grapes are usually of the highest quality and well worth the extra 

 care and trouble necessary to grow them successfully. 



Mr. Riehl agreed with Mr. McPike that Norton and Cynthiana 

 were the only varieties that we could always depend upon as being 

 hardy and healthy, but they are small and ripen late, so as to be 

 unfit for profitable market culture here, where early grapes paid the 

 best. Had fruited Jewel three years, and so far it has not winter 

 killed; was entirely free from rot until this year, when the rot com- 

 menced unusually early, and attacked even Cynthiana and Norton. 

 He believed that in any ordinary season it would be entirely free 

 from rot, being very early, hardy and healthy, and of the highest 

 quality; he believed it would be very profitable. Had fruited the 

 Niagara two years, and considers it the best white grape we now 

 have. It is hardy, healthy, very good quality, large and handsome, 

 the only white grape that does not rot as it ripens. It will be too 

 late for shipment north, but for home use and local and southern 

 markets believe it would give great satisfaction. 



Mr. Riggs reported Concord vines cut down to the ground in '85 

 as bearing a good crop of fruit, free from rot. 



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