92 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE EXHIBITS. 



A new feature of the meeting was cash prizes offered for exhibits of 

 grapes and apples. Queerly enough, none of the Lawton growers seemed 

 to have tried to save any of their grapes beyond their usual season, and so 

 the exhibits were from other places less famed for their viticulture. The 

 principal one was from the experimental grounds at South Haven in 

 charge of President Lyon, but this was not competitive. It embraced thir- 

 teen varieties, and, though they were in acceptable condition, Mr. Lyon 

 felt impelled to apologize in this regard, stating that the recent warm 

 weather had caught him with insufficient means of keeping down the tem- 

 perature, and the fruit had rapidly deteriorated on that account. He 

 showed Eumelan, Aminia, Agawam, Barry, Merrimac, Empire State^ 

 Downing, Diana, Ulster, lona, Jefferson, Isabella, and Delaware.. 



In much better condition was an exhibit of eight varieties made by Mr. 

 A. H. Smith of Paw Paw. He showed lona, Goethe, Salem, Wilder^ 

 Vergennes, Catawba, Agawam, and Empire State. These received the 

 prize of five dollars offered by President Lyon. Mr. Smith also showed 

 a plate of Vicar pears. 



Mr. C. P. Chidester of Battle Creek showed plates of two of his seed- 

 lings, Nos. 2 and 3. These are black grapes of superior quality. One of 

 them. No. 2, has a remarkable flavor of the strawberry. Whether this is 

 peculiar to it in its earlier stages of maturity we did not learn, but in any 

 event it is a most desirable table variety. Its strong skin makes it at once 

 a good shipper and keeper. In general appearance it is like the Concord. 

 No. 3 is a somewhat larger grape, both in berry and bunch, if it may be 

 judged by the specimens shown, and sufficiently good to deserve a name 

 and general cultivation. 



There was but one exhibit of apples, which was made by Eobert L. 

 Vahue of Allegan, comprising more than a dozen plates and nearly as 

 many varieties. They had not been preserved for show, but were a part of 

 the family's winter store, yet they were fairly perfect specimens of their 

 kinds, and well kept. A plate of perfect Fameuse was notable among 

 them. Their high color and general attractiveness caused them to be much 

 observed, some saying the fruit seemed more like something from foreign 

 clime, so long did it seem since apples were a common Michigan product. 

 Mr. Vahue received the prize of two dollars. He is yet a boy in his teens, 

 but is enthusiastic in pomology, and will be one day well known in his. 

 chosen work. 



