GRAPE CULTURE. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, January 8, 1876. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at 11 o'clock. 

 The President and Vice-Presidents being absent the meeting was 

 called to order by the Recording Secretary, and William C. Strong 

 was chosen President pro tern. 



The Treasurer, Edwin W. Buswell, presented his annual report. 



The Finance Committee presented their annual report. 



These reports were severally accepted and referred to the Com- 

 mittee on Publication. 



Caroline L. Tallant, of Roxbury, 

 was elected to membership. 



Adjourned to Saturday, February 5. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 



William C. Strong, Chairman of the Committee an Publication 

 and Discussion, presiding. The following essay, for which a 

 prize had been awarded, was read by the writer : 



Grape Culture usf Gardens and on Buildings, with a List 

 OP Varieties best adapted to such Purposes. 



BY WILLIAM N. BARNETT, WEST HAVEN, CONN. 



The grape is the noblest fruit that the temperate zone produces. 

 Grain and grapes are royal productions and give to gold its value. 

 A prolonged famine of either would well nigh ruin France, and 

 draw more gold from it than Prussia did by the late war. 



Grape culture has its history from the time of Noah : the history 

 of horticulture, therefore, commences at his vineyard. Asia and 

 Europe, in all ages, have devoted their best energies to cultivating 

 the vine and improving its varieties. These, in Europe, are all 

 derived, it is supposed, from the Vitis vinifer-a, and when trans- 



