38 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Catawba. Though its color mny not be in its favor, yet there can be no 

 doubt of its being a vahiable grape for a portion of the country, if not for Mas- 

 sachusetts. It has been raised in perfection by Mr. Bracket! at Winchester, 

 for the two past years. Those who like a good grape will at least try this 

 new candidate for public favor. Dr. Grant, by his agent, also exhibited the 

 lona and the Israella. The latter was a black grape, of medium size, both in 

 berry and bunch, but as the specimens were removed contrary to the rules, be- 

 fore the close of the Exhibition, your Committee had no opportunity to test them- 



Of Allen's Hybrid we can speak more confidently than we have been able to 

 heretofore. It ripened fully in open situations, and was sweet and good. This 

 variety is a great favorite with those who have tested it, especially with those 

 ■who admire a very sweet grape. It is of the best quality, high flavored, and 

 scarcely second to any grown in-doors or out. If there is any question con- 

 cerning this grape that remains unsolved, it is its hardiness, or ability to endure 

 the winters unprotected. We propose to leave a vine fully exposed this 

 winter for the purpose of testing it in this respect. 



Several of Rogers's Hybrids have been seen on our tables, such as Nos. 1, 

 4, 1.5, 19, 43, and others, but your Committee do not feel disposed to give a deci- 

 ded opinion on the merits of any of these. It has already been said, that some 

 of these varieties did not ripen early enough to be valuable ; and it may be added, 

 that as tested by us, they were found to have a hard pulp, and to be of inferior 

 quality, except No. 4, a black grape, of fair quality, which ripened well: but as 

 the specimens we have tried have been mostly produced on young vines, it is 

 unfair to fully decide upon their merits. It would be strange indeed, if, 

 among so many, there were not some good ones. We would, however, advise 

 the public to plant rather sparingly of all the numbers until they have been 

 more fully proved. We regret that they should have been launched on the 

 market with nuuibers instead of names, which will have the effect to produce 

 great confusion in regard to them. The Framingham was on exhibition, but 

 your Committee have little to add in regard to it. It is a fliir grape, but, like 

 the Hartford Prolific, drops off, which is a very serious objection to any grape. 

 Francis Dana, who is the most successful of all men in producing new and 

 valuable varieties of fruit, placed on our tables again this year, a seedling 

 grape, which he has named the Dana, which attracted considerable attention. 

 The best pomologist of our Society, after having carefully examined and 

 tested it, said it was the Rose Chasselas, — high praise certainly. The bunch 

 was of medium size, shouldered, rather compact, with a peculiar red stem, the 

 berries of rather large size, nearly round, red, with a rich, heavy bloom, so 

 that when fully ripe they appear almost black ; as free from pulp as the Dela- 

 ware ; not so sweet, but more spirited and vinous, and yet not an acid grape. 

 Ripe the 20th to the 25th of September, and that not under the most favor- 

 able circumstances. This fruit was shown again December 24th, in a fine 

 state of preservation, retaining its flavor to a good degree, thus seeming to 

 possess the long-keeping qualities of the Diana. We consider it a promising 



