10 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fruit of the " Main" Grape confirms our previous opinion that it is the 

 Concord. There can be no doubt of this, and though the persistent sale 

 of an old variety under a new name is a very plain question in ethics, 

 jet the Concord has such sterling excellences that the public suffers 

 less, in this case, than with the majority of really new kinds. 



Israella and Adirondac took the i^rize, Sept. 11th, as the best early 

 Grapes on exhibition. Different cultivators entertain precisely opposite 

 opinions respecting the Adirondac. With some it is too tender for the 

 ■winter, too subject to mildew, and in quality lacks character. But in 

 positions which ai'e favorable, the quality must be allowed to be very 

 agreeable, and it is not strange that in such cases it should be pronounced 

 the best early grape. 



At our Annual Exhibition the display of Grapes was good, though not 

 equal to many seasons. "VVe confine our report to the comparatively 

 new kinds. Stephen Underbill of Croton Point, N. Y., exhibited seed- 

 lings which deserve special attention, on account of their fine appearance 

 and superior quality. A white Grape, a cross of "White Chasselas with 

 Delaware, somewhat resembling the Rebecca, is evidently early, very 

 sweet, and of good qua ity, and is said to be hardy, vigorous and pro- 

 ductive. Another cross of Concord and Chasselas much resembled 

 White Frontignan in the appearance of bunch and berry. The quality 

 was brisk, juicy, vinous, and, if fully ripe, we should say superior. 



Another cross of Concord and iilack Prince resembles the latter, is 

 firm and crisp but probably too late for us. Another of the same parent- 

 age, not quite so large, with long and shouldered bunch, was brisk, juicy 

 and good, resembling the Prince in quality and appears to be fully as 

 early as the Concord. Yet another, from the same, was dead ripe, and 

 doubtless is as early as the Hartford. It was sweet, juicy, with a slight 

 Catawba aroma, and though some of the others may exceed it in quality, 

 yet it will rank at least as "very good," and, on account of its earliness, 

 it may be the most promising. Mr. Underhill is an experienced culti- 

 vator and a careful observer, and his commendation of the habits of 

 these products of his careful experiments is an assurance that we may 

 hope for varieties of permanent value from these unusually promising 

 seedlings. Arnold's Hybrids, black and white, long, loose bunches, 

 berries small, having, to a considerable degree, the characteristics of the 

 Clinton, which is understood to be one of the parents, — these were exhib- 

 ited by Rev. W. H. Wilcox. Our season has been unfavorable for them, 

 and probably they were not fair specimens. The introducer of the 

 Walter Grape exhibited a beautiful case of this fruit. The bunches and 

 berries were larger than our best Delaware, of which we had superior 

 specimens. The quality was not quite equal, not so tender as Dela- 

 ware, but still very good. We can form no opinion as to its time of 

 ripening and its habits, as it is understood to be carefully guarded and 



