68 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shown by Mr. R. to some of his friends in 1858. the first year of its bearinor, 

 about the middle of September, who were then very favorably impressed with 

 it. This year, when it bore many bunches, Mr. Brackett presented a bunch 

 to the Committee; those of them who tasted of it formed the highest opinion 

 of its value, and it seemed to them the best and by far the most promising new 

 hardy grape that had been brought to their notice. 



The Committee have also the past season had an opportunity of tasting some 

 new seedling hybrids, from Mr. Edward C. Rogers of Salem, produced by 

 impregnation of the native grape by the Black Hamburg, Sweetwater, etc. 

 It has for some time been generally known that Mr. Rogers had been engaged 

 in raising new seedling grapes by means of hybridization. Several of them 

 were exhibited by him at the Exhibition of the Essex County Agricultural 

 Society, at Newburyport, a few years since, and were mentioned in the Reports 

 of that Society of that year, and thus for the first time had attention been 

 called to them ; but although this was some time since, they have never been 

 submitted to the Committee of the Horticultural Society until this year, and 

 thus must be considered new so far as this Society is concerned. These grapes 

 were shown by Mr. Rogers at the Annual Exhibition, and presented to the 

 Committee on 28th September, distinguished by numbers 1, 4, and 15; and 

 again on October 4, when they were in better condition and riper than on the 

 former occasion. No. 1 is a large oval white grape, with a slight amber tinge, 

 juice somewhat watery, of a peculiar flavor, with a stringy pulp. It was pro- 

 bably not ripe, and in an unfit condition to be properly judged of. 



No. 4 is a large dark purple, or black, oval grape, with considerable pulp, 

 but with a sprightly or vinous juice. 



No. 15 is a large round red or dark amber-colored grape, juicy, with a thin 

 skin, tolerably sweet, and very slightly musky, perhaps not quite as vinous as 

 No. 4. 



Both Nos. 4 and 15 were, in the opinion of the Committee, good grapes, 

 though there was some difference of opinion as to which was entitled to the 

 preference. The bunches of all the varieties were of good size. 



No. 15 is very productive; a vine in the garden of Mr. Wm. H. Harrington, 

 of Salem, three years planted, ripened the past year two hundred good sized 

 bunches. Having seen them but once, and that in a year so exceptional as 

 the past, the expression of any further opinion of the merit of these grapes, 

 and their suitableness for general cultivation, would be hardly warranted. 



Considered as a purely scientific experiment, that of Mr. Rogers must be 

 deemed an eminent success ; his seedlings of the first generation have parted 

 with much of the distinctive character of the native variety, and show plainly 

 traces of their foreign parentage. Whether he has met with equal success in 

 originating varieties that shall, from early ripening and hardiness, be suited to 

 the general wants, is yet to be established. It is earnestly hoped that he has. 

 He has many sorts other than these named, some, it is believed, that have not 

 yet fruited. 



