io6 Notes and Gleanings. 



The Proceedings of the American Pomological Society are just 

 published, containing the President's Address, the Discussions of Fruits, the 

 Reports of the Committees and Secretary, Lists of Officers and Members, and the 

 Catalogue with the latest revision. 



We have before spoken of the value of these reports, and the present volume 

 confirms our belief that there cannot be found elsewhere such a condensed mass 

 of pomological information of equal value. Every member of the society is 

 entitled to a copy, and we feel quite sure that if their value was understood, the 

 members of the society would be numbered by thousands instead of hundreds. 



We were desirous to make some extracts from it for our pages, but where all 

 is so good, we find it difficult to choose. There are, however, several essays and 

 letters appended to the reports of the secretary, among which, we have been 

 particularly interested in the account by Dr. Wylie, of South Carolina, of his ex- 

 periments in hybridizing the grape. We had the pleasure of tasting several of 

 his hybrid seedlings. A variety produced by crossing Hybrid Halifax No. i 

 with the European grape was black ; very sweet ; bunch of moderate size ; ripens 

 in July, but does not set very well. Another raised from Black Hamburg, fer- 

 tilized by Labrusca, had a medium-sized bunch ; berry small or medium, round ; 

 color like Catawba ; skin thick ; pulp very tender and sweet. A cross between 

 Black Hamburg and Delaware was more sprightly than the latter, and had a 

 larger bunch. Hybrid No. 3, from Clinton, fertilized by Royal Muscadine, was 

 the most remarkable, its honeyed sweetness excelling any grape we have ever 

 tasted. The berry was small, transparent ; color rosy amber ; pulp tender ; 

 skin thin. These grapes may prove not to be adapted to the Northern States, 

 but we cannot doubt that the results of Dr. Wylie's persevering labor will be to 

 add to the catalogue of good grapes for southern climates, and we consider the 

 probability of their adaptation to the north stronger than in the case of the 

 Isabella, which was a native of South Carolina. 



We shall in our next number present some extracts from Dr. Wylie's Essay, 

 describing the results of his experiments, which we hope will find many imitators. 



Illinois State Horticultural Society. — This organization held its 

 fourteenth annual meeting at Ottawa, December 14, 15, 16, and 17. The 

 attendance was good from the various parts of the State, and increased by 

 a good delegation from Iowa and Indiana, and smaller ones from Missouri 

 and New York. The citizens of Ottawa took good care of strangers from 

 abroad, and in spite of bad weather and worse roads, the meeting was decidedly 

 a success. 



The first day was occupied with the reports of officers and the revision of 

 the apple, pear, and quince lists. The address of President Tyler McWhorter, 

 who is one of the first pomologists, as well as one of the most genial and kind- 

 hearted of the fraternit}', was a document of special value, of which I hope here- 

 after to be able to send you some extracts. The treasurer's report showed near- 

 ly twelve hundred dollars in the treasury, which, added to the two thousand 

 dollars annually appropriated by the State, gives us some three thousand dollars 

 to meet the expenses of the next year. 



