14 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Konnntiim, were again i)resented and were of usual quality, but we 

 regret that no definite test of their value for general culture has yet 

 been obtained. 



Tlie Concord was again exhibited under the name of Main's Seedling. 

 Col. Newhall presented a red Grape which sprung from the Concord; 

 it Avas sweeter than its parent but showed indications of dropping. 

 Mr. Wellington comi^elled the award of the first prize to the Isabella, 

 October 9th, although this variety is of little value for general culture. 

 Besides the fine collections of Davis & Bates and S. G. Damon, which 

 took prizes, Charles H. Higbee and D. M. Batch exhibited large col- 

 lections, embracing most of the numbers of Rogers and manj^ new kinds. 

 Salem is a compact bunch, berries reddish black, thick skin, of fair 

 quality and nearly r\])e. Martha, a green or white Grape, was sweet, 

 with melting pulp and i^leasant. Arnold's No. 2, of Clinton type and 

 parentage, and of same size, was brisk, rather sharp, but agreeable and 

 promising. Arnold's No. 1 was larger but very acid and poor. Col. 

 "Wilder presented several second crosses of Rogers' Hybrids to your 

 committee for testing. Some of these have lost character by recrossing 

 and none seemed to have special merit. Nos. 41 and 43 are very like 

 No. 4, now called Col. Wilder, and we trust it may deserve so honorable 

 a name. To us it seems to be the most valuable of Mr. Rogers' seedlings. 



Mr. C. M. Hovey presented, from Francis Houghton, a seedling sup- 

 posed to be from the Concord and resembling it, though not so large. 

 It was said to be grown under unfavorable circumstances. In char- 

 acter it Avas as melting as the Adirondac, brisk and agreable. It 

 deserves notice. It is well to note the date when the above kinds were 

 tested. 



Still later, October 22d, the extreme verge of the season for the 

 Grape, very fine bunches of Union Village were exhiljited, and also of 

 the Diana. This last does not require so long a season, but it ripens so 

 unevenly that its bunches appear to better advantage when all the ber- 

 ries are fully ripe, at the close of our longest seasons. There is no 

 doubt, however, that upon certain conditions of culture an earlier and 

 uniform time of ripening may be obtained for the Diana. More space 

 in the vineyard, more extended growth of cane and laterals, seems 

 likely to be the method by which we shall obtain permanent health and 

 pi'oductiveness with varieties which, with the close pruning system, are 

 ver}^ uncertain. 



While our list of contributors is a long one, it will yet be seen that 

 the large proportion of prizes is carried otf by a few names. Messrs. 

 Davis & Bates deserve special mention for their continued interest 

 and successful culture. The amount of their prize money is ^150. 

 Messrs. Clapp arc next highest on our list, and deservedly so, they 

 obtaining prizes to the amount of $^59. Messrs. Damon, Moore, Grant, 



