188 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



were fully ripe and sweet when they were picked, for ten days In 

 the house, and then shaking the bunches failed to shake off a 

 a single grape. The Concord upon my vines this year is finer 

 than I have ever seen the Isabella. 



Mr. Pardee. — I have had an extended opportunity of knowing 

 the fact. There were at least 150 gentlemen at the Poughkeepsie 

 Horticultural Society all raising it, and without exception, they 

 made that objection to it. Ten days is not long enough for a 

 market grape to remain on the stem. 



The Chairman read an article from a Montreal newspaper and 

 also extracts from correspondence, respecting the Adirondack 

 grape, discovered by Mr. Bailey at the foot of the Adirondack 

 mountains, which is stated to be superior to all others for culti- 

 vation north of Albany. It is ten or fifteen days earlier than 

 any first quality grape and promises to be as good in quality as 

 the Diana or the Delaware. It has not yet been extensively 

 introduced, 



EXCELSIOR MOWER. 



Prof. Mapes exhibited, on behalf of the agent, the model of an 

 improved mowing machine. The bar is capable of lifting itself 

 upon coming in contact with a stone. The driver with his foot, 

 may raise it a certain distance, and in addition to that the bar 

 will lift itself a certain distance so that by the two motions com- 

 bined it may pass over an obstacle a foot high. The cutter bar 

 continues its motion in all its positions. In moving upon a side 

 hill \vithout tipping the machine at all, the machine will mow as 

 well as upon level ground. The wheels may be readily unshipped 

 so that when the bar is raised the mower may be moved like an 

 ordinary carriage. 



Mr. J. B, Clute stated that he had taken the agency of this 

 mower. The name of the inventor is Robert Bryson, of Sche- 

 nectady. This mower performs all the fuuctions of the Buckeye 

 mowing machine, which is- said to be the most perfect machine 

 hitherto constructed, and has also the advantages which have 

 been stated. 



TRENCHING. 



Prof. Mapes said that trenching properly means the reversing 

 of the soil, and not merely its lateral movement. If we filter 

 through a barrel of soil containing one percent, of carbon and 

 one percent, of alumina, the b'Vown liquor from the barn-yard, 



