50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



is to be the character of the fruit. (Dr. Warder did not describe the 

 nature of these indications.) Another pomologist, he said, has shown 

 that the color of the fruit could be foretold by observations of the leaves. 

 As the leaves of the seedlings color on approaching maturity, so will the 

 fruit color at maturity. For instance : if the leaves of seedlings are 

 light and continue light colored, the color of the fruit will be light; but 

 if they turn dark at maturity, the color of the grapes will be dark. Dr. 

 W. also said that he did not think that strictly staminate plants are need- 

 ful, in a vineyard, to secure continued fertilization. 



Mr. WiER took issue with Dr. W. on this point ; said, we can I'aise 

 hops for a few years without staminate plants, then they fail. 



Pistillate flowering grapes exhaust themselves, in their efforts to per- 

 fect their fruit without ample fertilization ; and, after a few years, need 

 staminate plants among them to secure continued vigor and productiveness. 



Dr. Hull differed with the writer as to the cause of cracking in the 

 Concord, attributing it to the rapid swelling of the fruit from the influ- 

 ence of heat and moisture. The Concord cracked, with him, after rains, 

 and this could not be owing to drouth as stated by Mr. Wier. 



Mr. Wier thought that the skins of the grapes became so hard, from 

 drouth, that when rain did fall, they gave way. 



Mr. Galusha said his observations of the cracking of the Concord 

 coincided with those of Dr. Hull. The cracking of the grapes, in his 

 neighbor's vineyard (where they cracked very badly), mainly occurred 

 soon after they became colored, before they were ripe, and during warm, 

 showery weather. The cracking gradually diminished as the grapes 

 matured, although similar weather prevailed. 



Dr. Hull was sorry Mr. W. did not tell us the conditions of success 

 with the Catawba. The Ives colors early, but he doubts if it ripens 

 earlier than the Concord. It keeps late. He also stated that at a recent 

 horticultural exhibition in Iowa he had tasted good wine from Norton's 

 Virginia, grown farther North than Mr. Wier's place. It was there , 

 regarded as a valuable variety. 



Mr. Wier stated that the Norton's Virginia is not as valuable with 

 him as the Catawba. That the Clinton is a better grape to be grown 

 North than Norton's. 



Dr. Hull said that his observations of the Aletha did not accord 

 with Mr. Wier's. He stated, that although the flavor of the fruit was 

 nearly or quite identical, the stem of the bunch was much longer than 

 that of the Hartford, and the fruit ripened earlier. He thinks it can be 

 grown a hundred miles farther north than the Hartford. 



Mr. Baldwin has known the Aletha a long time. Its quality is 

 about the same as the Hartford, but it is about two weeks earlier in 

 ripening. 



Mr. Hathaway was also familiar with the Aletha (living in the 

 same town where it is growing). His opinion coincides with that of 

 Judge Baldwin. 



