76 



The Grange Culturist. 



From the Horticulturist. 



TEST OF GRA.PES AT NEWBUEG. 



In the November number of yoxxv 

 valuable journal, j'ou called the atten- 

 tion of your readers to the exhibition 

 of the Newburg Bay Horticultural 

 Societ}', and the display of fruits 

 and grapes exhibited there. In this 

 vicinitj', the subject of grape culture 

 is exciting a more than ordinary 

 degree of interest, and is made a 

 specialty by several of our horticul- 

 turists, prominent among whom is 

 James II. Eicketts, whose display of 

 fi'uits and grapes at the exhibition 

 ■contributed so largely to its success. 



Mr. R. has labored with care and 

 patience, and we think with some 

 measure of success, in improving the 

 •quality of our native grapes, both for 

 table and wine making. "We have 

 thought that a statement of his pro- 

 gress in that direction might prove 

 of interest to some of your readers. 

 For several years past ho has been 

 hybridizing with great care, and at 

 our last exhibition prod heed a few 

 bunches of a hybrid grape, now in its 

 second j-ear from the seed, which 

 gives promise of superior excellence 

 for table use. lie has also^ now in 

 its second year of bearing, a seedling 

 grape, which we are inclined to think 

 possesses unusual qualities for the 

 purpose of wine-making. 



This fall, after the grape had ma- 

 tured, he invited a number of his 

 friends to meet with him while he 

 pressed the grape, and tested the 

 must. We were present, Avith Mr. 

 Charles Downing and others, as wit- 

 nesses. The must, pressed from this 



young seedling grape, registered one 

 hundred and six and a half degrees. 

 The wish having been expressed to 

 see it compared with other grapes 

 raised by Mr. Eicketts under similar 

 circumstances, we proceeded to test 

 the following grapes with these re- 

 sults, namely : 



Eebecca 09 degrees. 



Hartford 71 " 



Concord 73 " 



Isabella 76 " 



Maxatawnj' 76 " 



Catawba 80 '' 



Herbemont 88i " 



Diana 91 " 



Iowa 94 " 



Lenoir 95 '' 



Clinton 97^1 " 



Delaware 113 " 



The instrument used was Oechsle's 

 must scale. The grapes were all 

 raised by Mr. Eicketts, except the 

 Clinton, and were in fine Condition. 

 The Delawares were especially well 

 ripened, and considerabl}' shriveled. 

 The must of the seedling is a deep 

 but pure bright red,* comparing most 

 favorably in color with any we have 

 ever seen. Its promise is spoken of 

 most favorably by experts who have 

 seen it. 8. 



Newiuiu;, X. v., Novemlier, I8ii). 



[A very interesting report, and we 

 wouM like to hear more of this ncAV 

 candidate for making red Avine. 

 Should like to test it here and report. 

 —Ed. G. C] 



