50 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [18G2. 



the competing collections ; foi- the quality of these fruits was of such char- 

 acter that the number of varieties in the several instances was decisive. 



They awarded, for the largest and best collection grown under glass, the 

 premium of §8.00 to Mr. "William T. Merrifield, of Worcester, for his collection 

 of fourteen varieties, consisting of Hamburg Victoria, Black Hamburg, Golden 

 Chasselas, Tokay, Syrian, White Nice, White Sweetwater, Wilmarth's Ham- 

 burg, New Black , Grizzly Frontignac, Early While Malvasia, Muscat of 



Alexandria, Muscat Blanc Hatif and Constantia of Zante. 



To particularize the merits of these varieties might be invidious, not only aa 

 between competitors, but also as between the varieties themselves. For it is 

 difficult to avoid attributing Mhat almost amounts to a personality, in their 

 excellence, to the different fruits of this class, produced by their several 

 exhibitors. 



To Mrs. A. D. Foster of Worcester, was awarded the premium of $6.00, for 

 the second best collection grown under glass, consisting of Black Hamburg, 

 Wilmarth's No. 16, Royal Muscadine, Victoria Hamburg, and Gras Bleu. 



The premium of $3.00 was assigned to John C. Mason, Esq., of Worcester, 

 for the third best collection grown under glass, brought forward by his gardner, 

 Mr. William Morgan, and consisting of Syrian and a noble profusion ot Black 

 Hamburg. 



As regards the Worcester cultivators of all classes of Grapes, it may be 

 proper to observe that the disastrous hail-storm in August was fatal to the 

 hopes and labors of several of them, injurious to many others, and has probably 

 effected a considerable reduction of the number of contributors. 



The specific premiums for Native Grapes were awarded as follows : 

 Grapes. — For the best specimens of well-ripened Isabella, to Mr. E. D. 



Batchelder, of North Brookfield, $2 00 



For Concord, do., to Edward Earle, of Worcester, '2 00 



For Diana, do., to J. C. Whitin, of Whitinsville, 2 00 



For Hartford Prolific, do., to S. H. Colton, of Worcester, 2 00 



A large variety of other Native Grapes were exhibited, one of which, the 

 Blackstone, is reputed as of decided merit for making wine. It was exhibited 

 by Messrs. Edwin Draper, of Worcester, and Charles Johnson of Northborough. 



Another large and handsome grape, exhibited by Mrs. M. H. Wheeler, of 

 Worcester, is noticeable as being the product of a vine at least one hundred 

 years old. The enormous size of the main trunk of this vine is the wonder of 

 its neighborhood. 



The premium of S2.00 for the best Native Grape worthy of cultivation, was 

 awarded to F. H. Dewey, Esq., of Worcester, for the Delaware, and that of 

 Si. 00 for the second best, to Mr. Joseph Lovell, of Worcester, for the Early 

 Northern Muscadine. 



In assigning the premium to the Delaware, the Committee felt justified in 

 assuming that the question of its nativity is substantially settled by pomolo- 

 gists, while its intrinsic merits are not disputed, and its character for produc- 

 tiveness, hardiness and eai'ly ripening seemed sufficiently established to warrant 

 the award of the Committee. 



