58 TRANSACTIONS 



FEUIT. 



DR. FRANKLIN EONNEY'S REPORT. 



There were two hundred and fifteen plates of excellent apples at 

 the Fai, in the new Agicultural Hall. 



The specimens of grapes were well ripened and of excellent flavor. 

 A raisin Isabella was particularly delicious. Some very fine speci" 

 mens of foreign grapes were brought into the hall, by Hon. Francis 

 De Witt, who presented them in behalf of Hon. Orin Sage of Ware. 

 The rarieties were the White Grape, White Nice, Austrian Muscat, 

 White Bual, White Sweetwater, Royal Muscadine, Syrian. Of the 

 dark varieties, Black Hamburgh, Victoria Hamburgh, Red Trarminer, 

 and Gridley Fontigau. The magnificent clusters of the Hamburghs, 

 and the transparent delicacy of the lighter varieties furnished a pleasant 

 temptation to the palate. Any one must have felt full of grape, whil;? 

 mentally drinking in these Sweetwaters; and wc should not be very 

 much surprised if some shooting afi"airs should come off" next spring, 

 as the result of the hot-headedness produced by this infusion. 



We understand that these grapes are raised under glass without 

 fire — the temperature of our climate being elevated enough to ripen 

 the fruit, if the sudden changes of Aveather can be guarded against. 



It seems surprising, in view of the little expense and labor in- 

 volved — that more attention is not paid to the cultivation of the grape. 

 As a luxury and a healthy article of diet, this fruit is unsurpassed. 

 Besides this, necessity seems to be forcing upon our considera- 

 tionthe home production of wine. It is notorious, that it is almost 

 impossible to obtain a pure foreign article. This fact has already 

 driven many persons to the manufacture of currant and other varieties 

 of wine, which cannot compete in quality, or facility of manufacture* 

 with the juice of the grape. Experience has already shown that no 

 foreign wines can surpass some of those produced in the middle and 

 western States. The Catawba, manufactured in Ohio, has a less pro- 

 portion of alcohol, than the most highly esteemed and delicate cham- 

 paignes of Europe, rendering it on that account superior to any other 

 variety. There is no reason Avhy its production may not be increased 



