132 MISSOUKI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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NEW VARIETIES OF GRAPES. 



Mr, Espenlaub read the following essay : 



The subject, '' New Varieties of Grapes," has, I fear, been assigned 

 to the wrong person, -as I have not invested much in the new high- 

 priced kinds, knowing that often the much lauded and high priced 

 prove inferior to old standard kinds which can be bought for a nickel 

 each. I invested three years ago in some Prentiss and after expend- 

 ing much time and patience I find it mildews every summer so that it 

 never ripens any wood to endure our winters, some of the plants gave 

 up entirely, others are only just alive, and I fear I will never succeed 

 in raising a Prentiss grape. 



I have succeeded but little better with Adirondac, Baccus, Brigh- 

 ton, Walter, Senasqua, Agawam, Louisiana and Triumph. 



Most of the Rogers Hybrids are going the same road. The only 

 kind of others is the Goethe, and it also was killed to the ground last 

 winter, though it is worth covering in winter. 



Of all new kinds very few^ promise better than those that have the 

 Concord for one of their parents ; they all have the advantage of being 

 hardy enough to endure our winters, though very severe they have 

 proved to be of late ; they also suffer little or none from mildew as 

 they all have the thick leathery foliage on the Concord. 



The next most promising class are those that have originated from 

 the almost worthless variety, the Taylor Ballit. They are mostly seed- 

 lings of the Elvira. These also are very hardy and healthy, and most 

 of Uiem very prolific ; they are most all while grapes. Perhaps one of 

 the most promising of these is Noah, it is very prolific, fair in size in 

 bunch and berry and of very good quality. There are some very good 

 seedlings of the Clinton, these also possess great hardihood, generally 

 have compact bunches, with rather small berries and are black, and 

 rank more as wine than table grapes. 



The following essay was presented bj'- L. A. Goodman : 



GROWTH OF PLANTS. 



How plants grow, that is, how is this life growth produced, has 

 been the study of scientists for ages. What this life principle is, how 



