162 [Assembly 



each a bunch of grapes; at the bottom of the pots he placed several 

 pieces of broken oyster shells, or other suitable material to give 

 good drainage; into each pot thus prepared, he held one bunch in 

 an upright position, keeping the lower berries about half an inch 

 from the draining, filling the pot with dry, clean, fine house sand, in 

 such a manner that every aperture between the berries was closed; 

 completely covering the fruit and stem, then watering the pots as he 

 would have done had they contained plants, he put them into a dry 

 room out of the reach of frost; from time to time he gave water suf- 

 ficient to keep the same moist. In this manner according to his 

 statement, the grapes kept plump, sound and retained all their fine 

 flavor for several months. 



The method is simple and cheap, it may succeed; had I been at 

 home, I should have tried the experiment, I intend to do so another 

 season. 



If I have in this communication presented to you, and through 

 you to the public but a single thought that may interest or stimulate 

 the cultivation of fruit, or the tiller of the soil; then gentlemen I 

 shall have an additional cause to rejoice that I have been a visitor 

 at the American Institute, and that I am permitted to subscrbe myself. 

 Your devoted fellow labourer, 



Friend and ob't servant, 



SAMUEL WALKER. 



To T. B. Wakeman, Esq., Sec^y American Institute. 



Roxburi/y Mass.y Dec, 8 1847. 



