THE GENESEE FARMER. 



349 



}R0 WEES' SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YOKE. 



ociety met in Rochester September SO, the first 

 le State Fair. There was a good attendance of 

 5. The following subjects were discussed : 



Best Varieties of Native Grapes. 

 iiomas stated that at the recent meeting of the 

 n Fomological Society, at Boston, the Hartford 

 -eceived a storm of approbation from all quar- 

 he Delaware was well spoken of, the only objec- 

 ng to its small size. Bunches were exhibited 

 I | lb., but | lb. was the average. Nevertheless, 

 [Ought by H. E. Hooker and others that as much 

 aid be raised from a vine as of larger varieties, 

 d name Hartford Prolific, Delaware and Concord. 

 llwanger thought the Hartford Prolific more 

 e for market, but would prefer the Delaware for 

 eating. Had fruited the Hartford Prolific six or 

 irs, aud this year thought more of it than ever. 

 ius grower and productive. It did not mildew 

 as Isabella. It is very early. In answer to a 

 , he said it would not make good wine — certainly 

 ella will not. We have no grape that will in this 

 unless it is the Delaware. The Concord, in Mis- 

 akes excellent wine. A grape to make good 

 st be perfectly ripe — should be ripe a month on 

 before it is gathered. 



es Downing said the Concord, with him, was not 

 ctive as the Delaware. Hartford Prolific earlier, 

 is from the vine. Creveling was four or five 

 r, but a better grape. It does not drop; Con- 

 ps from the bunch. 



. Hoag and Ellwanger confirmed the latter re- 

 regard to the dropping of the Concord. 

 iwning said the Clinton mildewed worse than 

 • variety. | 



.lwanger remarked that at Boston a gentle- 

 id that he had this year sold his Hartford Pro- 

 few York at 15 cents per lb. They were the 

 rape in market. 



Ioag, of Lockport, liked Hartford Prolific and 

 it Delaware was far ahead of anything we had 

 i three or four hundred vines of Hartford Prolific 

 n trellises. They produce as much as Isabellas, 

 j as much as Concords of the same age. Mildew 

 trouble him. Rebecca is more productive as it 

 ler. His Delawares had borne two heavy crops 

 sion, but this year there was a poor crop. He 

 Do vines need rest?" 

 ss Downing replied, "No." 



5l.insworth, of East Bloomfield, thought Hart- 

 ific the best early grape, and there it ends. It 

 jood price until other varieties come into mar- 

 aware the best for quality. Bears very well and 

 market. Had tried it in his cold grapery. It 

 and he preferred it to Black Hamburg. When 

 led, Isabella is excellent; but it does not always 

 tartford Prolific is a week earlier. 



Mr. Hoag said that last fall he put n<p some Delawares 

 in boxes. One of the boxes was laid aside and forgotten. 

 This summer he found it, and the grapes were good 

 rasins. 



Lewis F. Allen, of Black Rock, thought the world 

 moves. Four or five years ago he was at one of these 

 meetings, and the Isabella was well spoken of. He was 

 glad that their opiuions had changed. It rarely ripens in 

 this section. In New York it was excellent; but in this 

 climate it must go out of cultivation. The location had 

 much to do with the success of a vineyard. On Kelley's 

 Island, near Sandusky, Ohio, the grape was cultivated to 

 an enormous extent, and though some 200 miles north, 

 the Catawba was quite as good there as at Cincinnati. 

 The island contains some 3,000 acres. It is a clay soil, 

 some 14 or 15 feet deep, resting on a porous lime-rock. 

 In regard to making wine, he remarked that he had been 

 on many wine-tasting committees, and had never yet 

 tasted a good bottle of American wine. It was generally 

 a mere "syrup." The manufacturers' thought it was 

 good, but they knew no better. He recollected once 

 being at a public dinner in this city when Daniel Web- 

 ster was present. If any man knew what good wine was 

 he did. A geutleman from Chautauque county was 

 present, and had some wine with him of his own make 

 that he thought excellent. He wished Mr. Allen to pass 

 it to Mr. Webster. At first he declined; but on being 

 urged he handed it to him with the remark that it was 

 Chautauque wine. "This is Chautauque wine, is it V" 

 said Mr. W., as he put it to his lips ; then removing it 

 hastily, and putting on a wry face, he exclaimed: " Vin- 

 egar and molasses!" 



C. L. Hoag thought the Delaware contained sugar 

 enough to make good wine. 



Mr. Fisher, of Batavia, asked about the Ontario. He 

 saw it at the late Provincial Fair at Toronto. The 

 bunches were very large, weighing 1J to 1| lbs. each. 



Charles Downing said it was nothing more or less than 

 the Union Village. 

 Mr. Ellwanger thought so, too. 



Josiah Salter had fruited the Ontario for two seasons, 

 and he thought it was entirely distinct from the Union 

 Village. 

 2. Culture and Management of the Grape. 

 Linius De Wolfe, of Wyoming, was called upon. He 

 applies; well-rotted barn-yard manure to his grape vines, 

 at least once a year; applies it to the surface. He be- 

 lieves in surface manuring. He also applies all the un- 

 leached ashes he can procure to his grapevines. Thinks 

 them excellent, both for pears and grapes. Does not be- 

 lieve in the carcasses of dead animals beneath the grape 

 vines, as is sometimes practiced, unless they were 

 thoroughly composted with the soil. Thought he could 

 taste them in the flavor of the grape. 



Mr. VVolcott, of East Bloomfield, planted a three-acre 

 vineyard in 1356. There was near him a slaughter- 

 house, where 10,000 sheep had been killed. He procured 

 the refuse, and applied what would be equivalent to three 

 sheep to each vine! The vines had done well; but he 



jer, of Honeoye Falls, said Delaware ripens as 



Hartford Prolific. It was ripe this year by the would not like to use such matter unless it was well de- 

 composed. 

 Mr. Smith, of Livonia, had applied pieces of carcass to 



September. Diana kept well in winter; Deia- 

 not. It dries up like a rasin. 



