22 



13. Si. Merlin. — Size, large; form, pyramidal; skin, green, nearly cov- 

 ered with pale russet ; flesh, melting, sweet and good ; ripe in August. 



14. Bouvitr Bourgermestre. — Size, medium ; form, pyramidal ; skin, yellow, 

 smooth, with a fine tinge of red on the sunny side ; flesh, melting, very 

 juicy, rich and excellent ; October. 



The contributions of grapes from Messrs. J. F. Allen, W. C. Strong, 

 Hovey & Co., Breck & Son, M. H. Simpson, A. W. Stetson, A. Bowditch, 

 Nahum Stetson, J. Pritchard, and Mrs. F. B. Durfee, have been liberal dur- 

 ing the past season, while at the same time we notice the berries mark a 

 superiority in size and coloring, over those of preceding seasons. 



Mr. A. W. Stetson has, during the past year, oflTered a number of seed- 

 lings. Several give good promise — one of which he has named the 

 " Cabot," (in compliment to the President of the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 ral Society.) It is of so marked a character as to elicit a favorable notice 

 from Mr. Allen, and all will agree that Ms opinions in grape culture may 

 be considered as decisive. 



Of grapes for open culture, the Messrs. Hovey have continued to offer 

 the seedling raised by Mr. Bull, without any diminution as to merit, as 

 awarded in previous reports, and the Committee learn that the vines will be 

 procurable at the warehouses of the Messrs. Hovey & Co., and Messrs. 

 Breck & Son. 



We are pleased to notice that the attention given to grapes for open cul- 

 ture shows a decided change over the lethargic attention of former years, 

 both in the production of seedlings, and in bringing into notice many choice 

 varieties, heretofore unknown or unnoticed. Of the many seedlings offered 

 we do not feel that this would be a proper time to speak, and wait a mature 

 judgment, and, in passing, would merely say, as an encouragement to 

 growers, that those raised from seeds of the Catawba, have shown a decided 

 superiority. But your Committee would feel it a dereliction of duty should 

 they fail at this time to make favorable mention of a superior grape, ripen- 

 ing early in September, and exhibited by Mr. Thos. Waterman. This 

 grape will undoubtedly prove to be the " Winne," synonym " Colum- 

 bian" or "Buck" grape, of which Mr. Bull says, (see New England Farmer, 

 .Tuly 17, and December 11, 1829,) "The fruit is purple, close set, cluster 

 not very large, form nearer round than oval, pulp about the same as the Isa- 

 bella, never sheds its fruit, and is in eating from eight to ten weeks, a con- 

 stant and great bearer; it has been judged to have had on one vine at a 

 single time, fifteen bushels." 



We herewith subjoin valuable remarks on grapes, from Mr. Allen : — 



Salem, December 22, 1853. 



Dear Sir, — I have written down, for your use or otherwise, as you may think 

 best, the conclusions I have come to, first, as to those grapes which can be 

 soonest ripened by forcing ; and, secondly, those most suitable for retarding. 



I believe all cultivators of fruit are aware of the fact, that for cold houses, 

 or houses where a little heat is used for the main crop, that the Black Ham- 

 burg (in its varieties,) is the most suitable, and the most generally esteenied. 

 — Truly, yours, John Fisk Allen. 



