AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 257 



it seems to be but very little known. Perhaps it is owing to the fact of 

 our Pomological Convention passing some very unfavorable resolutions in 

 regard to it; but the resolutions did not change the good qualities of the 

 grape. 



It is a black grape with medium size bunches, the berry nearly as large 

 as the Isabella, quite sweet, with a musky flavor, perfectly hardy, and 

 ripens the middle to last of August. Its greatest merit is in bearing an 

 immense quantity of fruit under circumstances that many other varieties 

 would not bear at all. It has, however, one fault — that of falling from 

 the bunches as soon as fairly ripe. 



CURRANTS. 



In size of the fruit at least there is a decided improvement. Among the 

 red varieties that deserve notice are the two varieties of the cherry currant, 

 one w th long bunches, the other with larger fruit but shorter bunches, the 

 La Yersaillaise, Fertile d'Angers and Red Imperial. The Prince Albert 

 has pale red fruit. Gloire des Sablons is a new variety with striped fruit. 

 Imperial Jaune, or yellow Imperial, is a beautiful, large, pale yellow variety. 

 There are several new white varieties, but whether they arc superior to 

 our old favorites we are not prepared to say. 



There is probably no fruit of our gardens that is so universally neglected 

 as the currant, yet we know of none that shows the effects of good culture 

 as soon. All that is necessary is to give them a good soil Shortening the 

 young wood, thinning out the old, keep the grass and weeds away from 

 around the plants, and you will be surprised to see the amount of fruit 

 that can be grown on a few rods of land. 



There are several new varieties of raspberries, strawberries, pears, 

 and cherries that are worthy of our attention, but we will not weary your 

 patience by noticing them to-day. 



Mr. Fuller illustrated on the black board his method of transplanting 

 trees. The hole sometimes five feet deep ; the bottom of the hole never 

 left concave for that holds water, but always convex on the upper side ; 

 that figure tends to convey the surplus water laterally off from the roots, 

 and for better security, I set a tree not in the hole but near to it, so that 

 the hole is my special drain for that tree. Roots standing in too much 

 water are very apt to rot. All bruised roots, big and little, must be cut 

 above the wounds with a perfectly sharp knife ! Doing all this you are 

 sure of a good tree and not without it. 



Mr. Pardee wished that the Chairman and Mr. Burgess senior, would, at 

 the next meeting, give us more of their theory and practice of draining. 



Mr. Fuller. — The Delaware grape vine has been held at three dollars — 

 too much ! A too common practice largely prevails of customers to a nur- 

 sery insisting on great reduction of the prices of all the best plants in it, so 

 that some nurserymen feel compelled to comply, on pain of havirg no 

 sales; consequently the reduction does greatly happen in the quality of 

 the plants. 



[Am. Inst.] 17 



