I20 Azotes and Gleanings. 



than two plants each of Dr. Grant's famous seedling, the lona, I did so because 

 I regarded the investment in the light of a lottery-ticket. For indeed they were 

 such ; and so are all new seedlings : all are but tickets in the great horticultural 

 lottery; and too, I am fully warranted in declaring, less likely to draw prizes 

 than blanks. 



In the instance of the lona, we all, along "this line" at least, drew prizes. 



Before the trial and eminent success of the lona, Dr. Grant seemed to regard 

 me as arbitrary and hardly fair ; but afterwards, when I became well satisfied of 

 the great value of this variety, and invested ten thousand dollars in vines for my 

 own vineyards, the doctor evidently approved my course, and doubtless has since 

 held me in higher estimation than he would have done had I at first "gone in" 

 after the manner of "' shut your eyes, and open your mouth." 



As Dr. Grant might have anticipated, his address before the grape-growers 

 at Canandaigua gave rise to considerable muttering, which, as it appears from 

 a communication in your Journal, has at length culminated in open complaint. 

 Charges, it seems, have been preferred as well against the doctor personally as 

 against his cherished seedlings, one at least of which he has always regarded as 

 tenderly as the "apple of his eye." 



As to the matter embraced in the doctor's address, or the propriety of his 

 presenting the facts and opinions there set forth in response to the invitation 

 received from the president of the organization, the doctor, who was most inter- 

 ested of course, was doubtless well satisfied before it was offered ; and it is but 

 fair and most natural that each individual grape-grower or propagator should in- 

 dulge the same freedom of opinion. 



To the writer, it seemed proper then, as it does still, and especially at the first 

 exhibition of the society, to review the past history of grape-culture in our coun- 

 try, and to note the successive advances made by those earnest and faithful cul- 

 tivators who have preceded us, as well as to relate what has been accomplished 

 by the more fortunate experimenters of the present day, who, profiting by past 

 experiments, have ushered in the "new era," and have fully" succeeded in mak- 

 ing grape-culture in this country a permanent institution. 



Manifestly the important feature of such a review would consist of a faith- 

 ful narrative and history of the succession of new and improved varieties, 

 which is the sum of our accomplishments, and, together with the knowledge 

 gained with these acquisitions, — to wit, the manner in which they were ob- 

 tained, — constitutes all the capital we can fairly claim to have invested in the 

 grand achievement. 



But such a faithful representation Mr. Caywood claims the doctor failed to 

 present, grievously erring in favor of his own bantlings. 



This is a delicate point, and is withal a grave charge, and, I do not hesitate 

 to add, one which, judging from Mr. Caywood's antecedents, as well as from his 

 performance in drawing this bill of indictment against the doctor, he is i41y 

 qualified to establish. And, further, I am constrained to remark, that Mr. Cay- 

 wood's article scarcely exhibits the characteristic refinement and courtesy I 

 have already claimed to belong to professional horticulturists and fruit-growers. 



It is to be borne in mind that the doctor's performance was one of a public 



