76 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



exhibited at our annual fair, but specimens of this grape have 

 been oifered. In ahnost every instance, it has come under dif- 

 ferent names. The present year there were certainly two, the 

 committee believe three, specimens exhibited, neither of them 

 bearing the original name, though upon a little inquiry, it was 

 ascertained beyond a doubt, that the vine in Haverhill was the 

 source from whence they came. The shape color, and flavor of 

 these specimens, have been almost as various as their names, 

 and they have been spoken of in our reports, as different fruits. 

 The committee do not think it strange that it it should be so. 

 For though the discriminating marks of this fruit are sufficiently 

 obvious to those somewhat familiar with it, they are such as 

 might well pass unnoticed in a hasty and confused examination. 

 One thing is worthy of notice, that under whatever name it has 

 been spoken of, it has always been pronounced, and Avith great 

 propriety, a good fruit. This fruit in size is a little larger than 

 most of our grapes, remains longer in a state of eating, and 

 when fully ripened in a favorable situation, the outward skin 

 loses, in a great degree, its tough or leathery character, the pulp, 

 which encloses the seed, changes into a more tender and liquid 

 state, and the whole grape becomes a delicious morsel to be 

 eaten, and enjoyed as most foreign grapes, or as the blackberry 

 and raspberry, fruits so much esteemed by all. This fruit is 

 rather oblong in shape, varying in color from what some would 

 call a white to a flesh, and in some instances to a light purple 

 or crimson. The vine is a good bearer, and in common years, 

 with usual cultivation, the fruit will begin to ripen about the 

 middle of September, and if not injured by frost, will continue 

 on the vines till the middle of October, and perhaps later, and 

 may be kept, if carefully gathered, through November. The 

 committee venture to recommend this as a fruit worth cultiva- 

 tion, though not of that high character contemplated by the 

 society in the offer of premiums. The chairman has a variety 

 of this grape, which, in the opinion of many competent judges, 

 is thought to possess qualities which give it a decided prefer- 

 ence over the Haverhill grape.* 



* The committee think it quike likely, that some of the grapes growing in the country, 

 jreally resembling the Walker grape, have sprung from seed of this grape, scattered by 

 birds and other instrumentality. 



