314 



THE QENEt:EE FAKMEIi. 



Grapes. — The following are some of the newer 

 varieties proposed, but not classilied by vote: 



The Bullitt Grape— S-aid to be liardy and two 

 weeks earlier than the Isabella, by Messrs. Miller, 

 of Pa., and Bkyan, of Ky. 



The Raabe Grape— Commended as one of the 

 best American grai ^es, sweet and hardy, by Messrs. 

 Pkince, of N. Y., SooTT, of N. J., Mitchell f.nd 

 EUTTER, of Pa. 



The Maxatawny — A new grape of Berks Co., Pa., 

 a liardy white variety, like the Malagn, but having 

 the American leaf. Commended by Mitchell, of 

 Pa. 



The Clara— Amber color, nearly white ; spoken 

 well of by Mr. Scott, of N. J., and Dr. Grant, of 

 N. y.; while it mildews with Lyon, of Mich., and 

 Miller, of Pa. 



To Kalon— Commended by Strong, of Mass., 

 and Lyon, of Mich. ; but Hooker, of Eochester, 

 aud Dr. Grant, of New York, have found it to rot. 

 T'he Clinton received vei-y warm connnendations 

 from many leading delegates, as a hardy, produc- 

 tive grape, valuable especially for wine. 



Tha Marion — Also praised for similar qualities. 

 The Pauline — Spoken of highly as a Southern 

 vaiiety. Dr. Grant remarked that Southern 

 grai)es were never of the class termed sweet and 

 luscious, hut briskand vinous. 



Allen's Hybrid — A promising new white grape, 

 transparent like tlie Chasselas. 



Eoger's Hybrids, of some forty varieties, of which 

 about lifteen varieties promise very remarkable re- 

 sults, being the seedlings of a Massachusetts ama- 

 teur, obtained by crossi^ig American aud foreign 

 grapes. Too short a time has yet passed for posi- 

 tive statements to be given, but the highest hopes 

 of them are entertained by President Wilder and 

 others. 



Pears. — Tlie Beurre Hardy is wortliy a special 

 notice as one of the best, say Messrs. Barry, Wild- 

 er, Field and Eeid. 



Beurre Kennes — Col. Wilder, addressing the la- 

 dies, remarked, "My wife says it is next to the 

 Seckels." 



Beurre Sanglier — Commended by Col. Wilder, 

 and by Dr. Ward, and by Mr. Eied, of N". J. 



Beurre Nantais— Messrs. Field, Wilder, Barry, 

 and others, siioke well of it. 



The Chancellor, Sterling, Duchesse de Berri d'Ete 

 (one of the very l)est summer pears), Fondante de 

 Coinice, Fondante de Malines, lienkel, Hosen 

 Scheuck, Hull, Kirtland, Lodge, Ott (a seedling of 

 the Seckel, ripening in August), and Philadelphia, 

 were all highly praised by iutluential delegates ; 

 while the Oliarles Van Hooghten was cliarged with 

 killing e^■ery tree upon which it was grafted or 

 budded, and therefore stricken oli' from the recom- 

 mended lists. 



Fondante de iSToel shared a like fate, because it 

 • " never rii)>;ns.'' 



The following were the successful candidates for 

 the list of Fears that promise well: 



Washington Pear, Beuri-e de Montgeron or New 

 Frederick of Wurtemburg, Uewchled P<nre des 

 Nonnes, Omar Pasha, and IJwchlan. 



For cultiviitiun on the quince stock, the following 

 were generally praised, but not officially placed up- 

 on the list : Flemish Beauty, Howell, Tyson, Bran- 

 dy wine; Osboru's Summer, Duchesse de Berri d' 



Ete, and Beurre Lan_glier; while the well known \ 

 Bloodgood, though admitted lo succeed well at first, 

 was stated by Barry and others to last but a short * 

 time. 



The Culture and Disr:ASES of the Grape.— 

 The various forms of rot and mildew, the result of, 

 or accop.i[)anied by various species of fungus, were 

 described by Mr. Saundee.s, of PJiiladelphia. Dr. 

 Grant has successfully used flour' of sulphur. While 

 under glass, Mr. Saunders reonnmecded fumes of 

 sulphur, keeping tlie floor constantly d.impened, 

 and upper ventillation. The preparation (jf the 

 ground for grapes enlisted much interest. A con- 

 densation of the best advice is: Trench 20 inches 

 deep ; apply liberally well rotted manure, or com- 

 post of inanure and " muck," having it well mixed 

 throughout the soil. After the plants are growing, 

 apply manure only to the surface, in a well rotted 

 state. 



Pear Culture and Diseases. — Dr. Warder, of 

 Ohio, described the Western method of jireparing 

 for the pear orchard, which was by the use of 

 "double Michigan" plow, followed by the subsoil 

 plow, reaching a depth of 22 inches. As for man- 

 ures, natm-e had been more liberal "^ith tliem than 

 with Eastern soils, and it was scarcely necessary 

 for Western growers to use maruu'e. 



Mr. Field, of N. Y., as the rejiresentative of the 

 Eastern mode, claimed the spade and thorough 

 trenching, with stratum on stratum of manure, 

 well worked and intermixed, as essential to success. 

 As an epitome of his views, he presented the fol- 

 lowing six maxhns : 



1st. The soil in which trees are planted should 

 receive all its deep cultivation and manuring before 

 planting. 



2d. The whole area of ground on which trees are 

 planted should be as as deeply stirred as the deep- 

 est hole dug for their roots. 



3d. The inanure used must be perfectly decom- 

 posed, 



4th. The best soil will not be less than twenty 

 inches deep. 



5th. After trees have commenced vigorous 

 growth, the soil around and above tiie roots ought 

 not to be stirred more than two or three inches, or 

 not deep enough to touch their roots. 



6th. Manures, after trees are planted, should be 

 applied to the surface. 



Dr. BoYNTON, of Syracuse, who certainly had 

 on exhibition the best colored specimens of pears, 

 gave the extreme of the mineral manure practice, 

 and talked only of phosphates and chlorides, even 

 on a hill-top where the rains had washe.d away the 

 soil. He said he would prosecute any man who 

 should empty a load of manure on his grounds. 

 He, however, made an exception in favor of dog 

 inanure, of which he had gathered and used large 

 quantities. Older cultivators smiled and shook 

 their heads at his dogmas. 



In planting, all agreed that when on quince stocks, 

 the point of union in grafting should be placed two 

 or three inches below the surfiice. 



The following officers were elected for the next 

 two years : President, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, 

 of Boston. One Vice President from each State 

 and Territory iu the Union. Trsasurer, Tnos. P. 

 James, Philadelphia. Secretary, Tnos. W. Field, 

 New York. 



