1864.] REPORT ON GRAPES, PEACHES, ETC. 89 



REPORT ON GRAPES, PEACHES, &c., &c. 



F. H. Dewey, Chairman; D. Waldo Lincoln, Benjamin Butman, 

 Edwakd S. Stebbins, John C. Ripley. 



The Committee on Grapes, Peaches and all other Fruits, having attended to 

 the duty assigned them, respectfully report: 



Apples and Pears, the staple Fruits, have each heen dignified with a Com- 

 mittee, while the consideration of' the merits of all other Fruits have been 

 entrusted to a single Committee, whose duties, if not as onerous, are at least 

 as attractive. 



First on the list comes the Grape, and who that compares the Exhibition of 

 to-day, with that of ten years ago, does not mark the great progress made in 

 the cultivation of this delicious Fruit. Then, the Isabella, Fitchburg and 

 Blackstone, with a scattering Sweetwater or Catawba, were found on our tables. 

 They now give place to the Delaware, Diana, Concord and Hartford Prolific. 

 The exhibition of Green House Grapes was not as large or fine this vear as 

 it has been on some former occasions. The awards were : 

 Grapes. — For the largest and best collection grown under glass, fourteen 



varieties, to James Comley, $8 00 



For the second best, to Rufus Woodward, Harris on Insects. 



For the best two clusters of Black Hamburg, to Stephen Salisbury, 2 00 



For the second best, to James Comley, 1 00 



But the exhibition of Native Grapes was superior to that of any former year, 

 both in number of contributions and in the specimens. It has been proved 

 that we can raise in the open air Grapes which, if not equal in size, color and 

 flavor to the hot-house Grapes, yet approach so near to them in these qualities, 

 as to render it possible for every one, who has a garden spot or a house to train 

 a vine upon, to secure to himself this choice Fruit. 



There were thirty-four contributors of out-door Grapes, among them seven- 

 teen plates of Hartford Prolific, thirteen of Concord, twelve of Isabella, eight 

 of Diana, six of Delaware, two of Amber, one Rebecca. 



In the opinion of all the Committee, excepting the Chairman, the best speci- 

 men of thorough-ripe Delaware Grapes were those of F. H. Dewey, but he 

 refused to be considered a competitor for the premium. 



For the second best, to S. H. Colton, 1 00 



For the best Concord, to Henry Phelps, 1 00 



Far the best Diana, to Horatio Phelps, 1 00 



For the best Hartford Prolific, to Charles Richardson, 1 00 



Gratuity. — For the second best Concord, to James F. Allen, 1 00 



Gratuity. — For the second best Diana, to George Jaques, 1 00 



Gratuity. — For the best Isabella, to E. D. Batchelder, 1 00 



There are many others worthy of mention, and between the merits of which 

 and those to whom the premiums were given, it was difficult to decide. Fine 



