FRUIT committee's REPORT. 33 



perfectly ripe, on 12th of September, by Messrs. Strong & Spooner. That 

 it ripened perfectly in the open air, so early, was an event of some interest, 

 because the only doubt that has existed with respect to the claims of this 

 variety to be placed in the very first rank, if not at the head of the list of 

 out-door grapes, has been in reference to its hardiness and fitness for out-door 

 culture. Although further proof may be necessary to conclusively decide the 

 question, yet the experience of the past year, as far as one year can, seems 

 to solve this doubt. About the great excellence of the variety there has 

 nev«r been but one opinion ; it is certainly a most delicious grape in sweet- 

 ness and richness, though of a different flavor, rivalling the Grizzly Fron- 

 tignan. 



To go back to a period not more remote than that of the formation of this 

 Society ; at that time, the only out-door grapes of any value then possessed 

 were the Isabella and Catawba, both fine grapes, but both so late in arriving 

 at maturity that it was rare, and only under favorable circumstances, that 

 either, and especially the last, became perfectly ripe in this vicinity. With 

 a greater knowledge of the subject, and a better system of pruning and culti- 

 vation, these varieties are now more frequently produced in a perfect state than 

 formerly ; but at the time referred to it might properly be said, that, from 

 being so late, the Isabella only rarely, and the Catawba never attained here 

 to perfect ripeness. To these two was soon added the Diana, that, being of 

 good quality and ripening earlier, was an acquisition. After a time, the 

 subject attracting attention, endeavors were made at an improvement in this 

 fruit by raising new varieties from seed, that, constantly prosecuted, have, it 

 must be allowed, been attended with great success. One of the first evi- 

 dences of the success to be afterwards attained, was the production of the 

 Concord, and subsequently of the Hartford Prolific. Neither of these varie- 

 ties was in quality any improvement on the Isabella, on the contrary they 

 •were decidedly inferior to that variety, but the first being of large size and 

 much beauty, and the last named very early in ripening, they were wel- 

 comed, as tending to show that an improvement might be expected if the 

 means to obtain it were resolutely pursued. At a somewhat later period the 

 Union Village was brought into notice by Mr. E. A. Brackett, and its intro- 

 duction constituted another era in grape culture. 



To attempt to relate step by step all the stages of the advance that has 

 been made in the endeavors at improvement of hardy grapes, would require 

 more time and labor than can be given to it ; it is sufficient to say, that the 

 endeavor has been so crowned with success, that instead of having, as was 

 the case but a few years since, only such acid imperfectly ripened grapes 

 that it was performing a penance, rather than procuring a satisfaction, to 

 eat them, there is now the Delaware, Allen's Hybrid, the lona, and Adi- 

 rondac. Truly the improvement has been wonderful ; the advance from the 

 Concord and Hartford Prolific, to the Delaware and Allen's Hybrid, to sa/ 

 3 



