6 Jl Retrospective View of the 



the pleasure of tasting but a short time since; it is a very fine late 

 autumn variety. In the Report of the Annual Exhibition of the 

 Society, an account of which appeared in our vol. III. p. 457, 

 Mr. J. B. Smith obtained a premium for a seedling called the 

 Pennsylvania pear. In grapes the milder seasons of Philadelphia 

 afford an opportunity for crops in the open air to ripen, and in 

 the city alone " thousands of pounds" were raised the past year. 

 Some bunches, weighing two pounds, were cut from Muscat 

 vines, which have stood out several years without on?/ protection. 

 Such " golden harvests" have been reaped, that arrangements 

 are making for the planting of great numbers of vines in the open 

 air. In times of old, persons who planted vines were only wont 

 to " scratch a hole with a spade, and insert a grape vine, leav- 

 ing all after management to nature: the result, of course, was 

 abortive and discouraging; now, they proceed in a scientific and 

 skilful manner, and prepare the soil, excavate and plant as vines 

 should be planted." With such advantages in the open air, few 

 graperies have been erected in Philadelphia. The first of any 

 extent was that of N. Biddle, Esq., about two years since: but 

 during the past season other cultivators seem to have become in- 

 terested in their production by this mode, and a fine grapery, 

 about ninety feet in length, has been erected by W. W. Cam- 

 mac, Esq. Some efibrts are making to introduce vines into 

 green-houses; but our correspondent states, and we agree with 

 him, that " there is a doubt of its general practicability, if the 

 desire is at the same time to have a collection of choice plants. 

 However, in the hands of a scientific operator, it may prove 

 fruitful, without much injury to exotics." Mr. Biddle's gardener 

 has produced some fine grapes in pots, for which he received a 

 premium from the Horticultural Society. 



There has been a decided improvement in vegetables. " An 

 impulse has been given to the market growers, and they are mak- 

 ing efforts to excel each other in the quality and quantity of their 

 produce. This impulse has been stimulated by the liberal re- 

 wards of the Horticultural Society, which has done, and is still 

 doing, much for the cause, patronized as it is by the citizens and 

 neighboring amateurs, who are aware that a market well stocked 

 and a table well covered with the most wholesome vegetables is 

 the grand panacea of health." Immense quantities of rhubarb 

 are now sold in the Philadelphia market, and there have been 

 some improved varieties introduced, which command a much 

 higher price than the old variety. 



In Baltimore, the Maryland Horticultural Society has held its 

 annual and monthly exhibitions, and done considerable towards 

 directing the attention of the citizens to the subject; but we have 

 not seen any reports of its exhibitions the past year, and from 

 our own knowledge are unable to offer any remarks. 



