304 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Dr. John M. Crowell said that several around this city are making 

 experiments with carbolic acid on the cm-culio. It can be obtained 

 at the druggists for seventy-five cents per pound, and in large quan- 

 tities much cheaper. 



GRAPES AT PITTSBUEG, PA. 



Gen. J. S. Negley. — The exhibition of over fifty hardy varieties 

 of grapes, in the city of New York, during the last days of October, 

 cannot fail to awaken a renewed confidence in the culture of this 

 luscious fruit, whether for pleasure or pecuniary benefit. The rare 

 opportunity thus presented to test comparatively the qualities of the 

 different sorts, so far as this could be ascertained by the taste or 

 appearance, will mature favorable opinions of many varieties; 

 which, however, should be guided by a knowledge of the hardi- 

 hood and productiveness of the vines. It is of vital importance to 

 the cultivator of the gi*ape, for any purpose, that he should confine 

 his selection to those which are adapted, by a natural affinity, to his 

 soil and climate. The geogi-aphical limits of species are broadly 

 defined on the face of nature. Even sub-species and varieties have 

 their region of adaptation as positively defined. This Avonderful 

 provision in the organic laws seems unmistakeable, and should not 

 be passed over unheeded in either of the departments of agriculture 

 or horticulture. I have paused to refer to this important influence 

 over the skill and labor of the vintner, that greater value may 

 be attached to the successful results attained with some of the 

 varieties in certain sections of the country, while they fail in others. 

 Further, as some encouragement to the producer of seedlings, and 

 who consistently believe that this favored land is destined to 

 acquire as its first title, " Vineland of the world." Other timely 

 suggestions may be added (I trust without trespassing upon your 

 patience), for the advantage of those who contemplate embarking 

 in vineyard enterprises, that the achievment of success and public 

 renown in grape culture implies a fascination for horticulture — an 

 eminent fitness for this special pursuit. The choice of a location 

 near lines of cheap transportation, a selection of those varieties 

 which appear to be best suited to the locality. This followed by 

 a judicious treatment of the soil and plants, ceaseless energy, pro- 

 fuse expenditure, a stoic perseverance in combating the numerous 

 enemies of the vine, which seem to be ever on the alert to disap- 

 point fond hopes and blight the results of patient toil. To those 

 who are so fortunate as to possess these qualifications, I would 



