20 



as an amateur grape. It matures sufficiently early, it looks very nice on the table, and 

 none of us is going to object to its flavour. I prize the Walter also very highly as an 

 amateur grape. It is almost useless for marketing purposes. It does not require very 

 high culture, neither does it require with us very careful culture. I would never reject 

 the Delaware for amateur culture. . It is one of our grapes. I was very agreeably dis- 

 appointed this year when I fruited the Pocklington. I found it mature with us earlier 

 than the Concord, and it suited nearly every persons' taste, who had the privilege of 

 tasting it on our grounds. When we come to Rogers' hybrids we find several varieties 

 that are appreciated ; but I must confess here that I do not appreciate any of them — 

 they leave an unpleasant sting about the tongue, that I do not care for at all. Still, 

 some of them, on account of their keeping qualities, we can enjoy after all the other grapes 

 are gone. They are of no value to us where we cultivate the Burnet. I cultivate the 

 Burnet largely and successfully, and I do not know how long it can be kept. I have 

 never seen it spoiled, and I have never seen a spoiled berry on it yet. We do not suppose 

 it is going to succeed in every section of the country, but, as an amateur grape, I would 

 be very sorry to do away with it on my ground ; in fact, I could not. 



Mr. Saunders. — Does it mildew with you 1 



Mr. Dempsey. — I have seen some of Rogers' hybrids, the varieties I have just 

 spoken of, mildew. I have seen the Burnet vines growing in among them, and not one 

 particle of mildew on it. 



Mr. Haskins. — I can say the same thing. 



Mr. Dempsey.- — I am not going to say it is exempt from mildew, because, I believe, 

 -every variety of grape, to a greater or lesser extent, is subject to mildew. This year, 

 when the Burnet was in blossom, there came a very heavy rainstorm, and the pollen 

 seemed to be carried off, not only from the Burnet variety, but from every other variety 

 that was in blossom at the time. The Burnet went on, and produced a very small berry 

 without any seeds. My No. 25 I have fruited extensively, and I have fruited it so 

 that I have sent it to market, and it commanded the highest price this year of 

 anything that I sent to the market. It is one of the hardiest grapes I have, and one of the 

 most rapid growers. It is also one of the most productive varieties that I have, and, if 

 thinned, it ripens very well with me ; but it is inclined to be late. It is a very high- 

 flavoui-ed grape. I sent a sample of it to Mr. Saunders in the fall, and I presume that 

 he can give a better opinion of it than I can, for the reason that we are all liable to 

 cultivate our taste to a certain variety— we can cultivate a taste even to like tobacco. 

 Ino. 6 is a very rapid grower. It is the Delaware crossed with Allen's hybrid. It is a 

 very early grape. It is the earliest grape we cultivate ; but it drops ofi' the bunch very 

 early. It is a small grape, a little larger than the Delaware, but it is almost a white grape. 



Mr. Saunders. — In regard to the samples of this white grape sent to me by the 

 President in the summer, I must say I was favourably impressed with it. The berry was 

 about as large as the Concord, a little more oval in form, and sweet and good in every 

 respect. 



Mr. Dempsey. — In justice to another Province (Quebec), I have this to say : Mr. 

 Bucke was speaking of cultivating the Royal Muscadine in Ottawa — the Chasselas de 

 Fontainbleau, or Golden Chasselas, I think he called it — they are all the same thing. 

 If you look at the report of the Farmers' Association from Abbotsford, in Lower Canada, 

 you will see that there are a large number of exotic varieties there that they are succeed- 

 ing with ; and they can actually cultivate some varieties of grapes that we cannot succeed 

 with here at all. That is the fact in the vicinity of Ottawa, on these south-eastern slopes, 

 where the soil is largely composed of a shaly, slaty rock. Grapes will mature there 

 -earlier, and they are finer than we can produce. The farther we come south, the more 

 liable does fruit appear to be attacked by mildew. I am not surprised at our American 

 friends feeling astonished at seeing us growing and succeeding with grapes in the open 

 air. It only makes us feel prouder of this Canada of ours. 



Mr. Arnold. — We do not succeed in growing the Muscadine in our section of the 

 •country satisfactorily ; but, there was a white grape, sent out by some gentleman in 

 Hamilton, some twenty-five years ago — by Mr. Fairman — called the Canadian Chief, which 

 is much more hardy than the Royal Muscadine. It is not so liable to be injured by the 



