364 Azotes and Cleanings. 



Fair of the Lake-Shoke Grape-(;ro\vi:rs' Association. — T!ie first 

 Annual F.iir of the L.ike-shore Grape-Growers' Association as re-organized, was 

 held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15 and 16, at t!ie Court House in Erie, Penn. 

 The display of grapes and flowers was fine, and was much better than was an- 

 ticipated in view of the unfavorable character of the season for grapes on tlie 

 Lake Shore. There was a tair attendance upon the meetings and discussions 

 of the association. Nearly a hundred and fifty entries of grapes Vi'ere made, 

 and the number of plates exhibited on the tables was about two hundred. The 

 samples were from different localities, — from the Hudson River on the east, and 

 Hamilton, Canada, on the north, to and including the Lake Shore. Perfect speci- 

 mens of the Eumelan, the Walter, and the Croton (the latter Mr. S. W. Under- 

 bill's new white seedling, a cross between the Delaware and Chasselas), were 

 exhibited, and were much admired. Wines from Mr. E. A. Thompson of Cin- 

 cinnati were on the tables, and his sample of Norton's Virginia was especially 

 admired for its excellence ; while the South-shore Wine Company of North 

 East, Ryckman, Day, & Co., of Brocton, and several smaller manufacturers, 

 showed fine samples of their diiTerent brands of red, white, and sparkling wines. 



Among the distinguished visitors to the fair were Charles Downing of New- 

 burgh, F. R. Elliott of Cleveland, Secretary of the United-States Pomological 

 Society, and M. B. Bateham of Ohio. 



On the evening of Friday, William Griffith, Esq., President of the Association, 

 delivered an address. He referred to the different systems of pruning the vine, 

 and deprecated the method of summer-pruning which had been so generally 

 practised, but was now growing into disfavor. He alluded also to the oidium, 

 or mildew, and other diseases of the vine, which had proved to be more or less 

 disastrous during latter years in Ohio ; and made copious extracts from different 

 writers on the subject. The climatic and atmospheric conditions and the char- 

 acter of the soils on the Lake Shore were stated at length. The efforts of gen- 

 tlemen who have sought to produce new and valuable varieties by raising new 

 seedlings, either by chance results or by hybridizing, were especially commended ; 

 and, finally, wine-making was spoken of as a branch of industry which must 

 be fostered and encouraged if the permanent interests of grape-cultivation were 

 to be regarded. 



He was followed by Mr. E. F. Underbill, the secretary, who described the 

 system of wide planting and high training and pruning practised at Naples 

 Valley, N.Y. [The system was fully described in an article, by Mr. Underhill, 

 in the November number of the Journal.] 



Mr. F. R. Elliott of Cleveland briefly addressed the association. He alluded 

 to the remarkable success which this year had attended grape-culture in New 

 England in contrast with our own success on the Lake Shore ; and stated, that, 

 on the Lake, they must not plume themselves too much upon tl eir supposed ad- 

 vantages for grape-growing, for there were many, very many situations where 

 the vine could be grown with eminent success and profit. 



Mr. M. B. Bateham of Ohio also addressed the association. 



During the second day, the discussions were resumed. 



Mr. A. S. Moss of Fredonia, N.Y., referred to the progress which had been 



