150 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I have tried the superphosphate, and also 

 wood ashes and plaster, and I can see no advantage in the super- 

 phosphate over the wood ashes and plaster. On my land, which 

 is a little light, plaster and wood ashes have an excellent effect. 



The Chairman. — I should have mentioned that I applied plas- 

 ter with the superphosphate, mixing the two together. 



Subject for discussion. — The subject of "Fruits and Flowers" 

 was selected for discussion at the next meeting. 



September 16, 1861. 

 Dr. Hawkes in the chair. 



GRAPES. 



Mr. Steele exhibited some Isabella grapes with the flavor of 

 the grape, in contrast ivith others colored, but unripe, such as 

 are sold in the New York market. 



Dr. Trimble would discourage the use of the Isabella grapes 

 at this season of the year. Usually it is not fully ripe until 

 there has been cold weather; and at this season there is a large 

 variety of ripe fruits. 



Prof. Mapes remarked that he had not seen a sweet grape 

 brought to market by Dr. Underbill. His grapes are large and 

 fine looking, but not so sweet as many other Isabella grapes. 

 He had found a marked difference between different vines, all 

 supposed to bear the Isabella grape. He exhibited a piece of 

 grapevine bearing grapes, and as the producer supposed, also 

 peaches. Upon cutting one of the supposed peaches open, in the 

 presence of the club, he found therein the appearance of a seed ; 

 but it was pronounced by Dr. Trimble to be a larva, such as is 

 often found in such excrescences from the bark of trees, 



Mr. Perry, of the firm of William Perry & Son, of Bridgeport, 

 Conn., exhibited a specimen of the Delaware grape, grown in 

 Pennsylvania. 



Mr. Pardee. — This is the best of the native grapes. Its flavor 

 is far above the Catawba or the Diana. This is a young vine; 

 it was a layer last spring. I have seen large vines bearing in 

 the same way bunches that would weigh nearly a pound. 



Mr. Fuller. — This is a fine specimen, and I believe the first 

 exhibited here, of a vine grown upon Bright's system. It is a 

 question whether that is a good system. The plan is to grow 

 vines two feet apart, trained upright. Each alternate vine is 



