WESTERN NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 489 



A few words as to my own experience, illustrating some of the trials and disappoint- 

 ments which I have met with in endeavoring to produce new varieties of merit, by 

 crossing the Concord and Delaware, may have some interest! 



One seedling which I grew had the character of the Concord in growth and foliage; 

 leaves thick, downy and rufous underneath, and was impervious to mildew. Clusters 

 medium large with form and color of Delaware, similar in flavor, without any foxiness; 

 good enough in quality to make it a valuable acquisition. But after further trial, a 

 defect which did not appear serious at first, destroyed it. Soon after maturity, it 

 would "shell off," leaving only bare stems; and some clusters, which I had bagged to 

 insure perfect condition. I found all loose in the bottom of the bags. It is now grafted 

 over, and bearing Ulster Prolific. 



Other crosses of Delaware and Concord, and Delaware and Worden, produced strong 

 vines and healthy foliage, but seemed to have retained and intensified all the unfavor- 

 able characteristics of both, or of their ancestors, with none of their good ones, and, so 

 far as the fruit was concerned, were entirely worthless. 



A later combination, still in hope of improving the Delaware, produced a vine with 

 fine growth and healthy foliage, clusters large, with the form and color of the Delaware; 

 flavor rich and delicate, and very nearly as good; ripening early, and berries hanging 

 perfectly to the stems. What was the matter with this? I will tell you. It had too 

 many and too large seeds for the size of the grape, and would be tit only for those who 

 press out the pulp and bolt seeds and all ; but as I do not eat grapes in that way, and do 

 wish to encourage it in others, this nursling of years from which I had at one time 

 great hopes, is relegated to that banishment where hundreds have gone before. 



I have just one more of this type, which has as yet developed no fault, and still prom- 

 ises well ; but may, or may not, be of any value, hereafter. 



Some of my later efforts have been directed towards a possible improvement of the 

 Concord, and I am happy to say, with much greater promise of success. The faults of 

 the Concord, to which I have before alluded are^First, skin tender and easily broken ; 

 Second, pulp quite soft, next to skin, rendering handling and shipping difficult ; Third, 

 lack of keeping qualities— breaking down or decay too eoon after gathering, or if left 

 too long on the vines ; Fourth, too late in ripening for many northern localities ; and 

 Fifth, quality not quite good enough for highly cultivated tastes. At present, I do not 

 care to say more than that I believe I have, after many trials, succeeded in producmg 

 a variety that remedies all these defects and at the same time retains all the good 

 points of the Concord, in vigor of growth and health of the vine and foliage. 



There are many more varieties, which I might comment upon and some of which 

 may have greater value in certain localities than these which I have mentioned. But 

 I have mainly spoken of those with which I have had personal experience. I recognize, 

 also, the principle that there can be no practical benefit in multiplying and introducing, 

 or recommending new varieties, unless they have some important characteristic or 

 excellence above those vrhich we already possess. 



The time has passed when the mere fact that a variety is a new seedling or hybrid is 

 sufficient to commend it to public favor. And I believe there are many grapes, which 

 might with advantage be left out of our catalogues — and I think this will be done at 

 no distant day, with no loss to our nurserymen and with decided benefit to their 

 customers. 



In reference to my comparatively unimportant efforts in producing new varieties to 

 which I have before alluded, I can say that I have conscientiously worked upon the 

 lines of rejecting all which did not prove in some important respect better than any 

 others yet known ; and although hundreds have been thrown away in carrying out this 

 determination, I still have an abiding faith, resulting from my experiments, that pro- 

 gress will continue through the agency of skillful and intelligent efforts by growth of 

 seedlings ; by crossing and hybridizing ; combining, selecting and re-combining ; and 

 although it may be slow, will eventually result in substantial, and as nearly perfect 

 success, as man can reasonably expect to achieve. And if I could live my seventy- 

 seven years over again, or the half of them— I would still continue my labors in this 

 field, notwithstanding its many discouragements and disappointments, never doubting 

 that I could make some valuable advancement worthy of the efforts which I would 

 gladly make in this interesting pursuit. And although I may not live to see it, I 

 believe the time will come when we shall have, through the efforts of our enthusiastic 

 experiments, grapes for all useful purposes, and suited to all sections of our country 

 where the vine will grow and flourish — that will be second to none grown by any other 

 nation or country upon earth. 



