234 [Assembly 



though it was very good there — some might be disappointed in this 

 grape ; but if fire-heat were applied and the fruit suffered to hang 

 till November or December, it would prove first rate. In England 

 clusters had been raised weighing fourteen pounds ; in Boston from 

 six to seven ; and in New Jersey, as has just been stated, eight and 

 a half. 



The motion to add the Syrian was lost : five yeas, seven nays. 



NATIVE GRAPES OPEN CULTURE. 



The Isabella and the Catawha were adopted unanimously. 



Mr. French proposed to add the Diana^ which, on motion of Mr. 

 Downing, was placed on the list of fruits promising well. Mr, 

 HovEY remarked that in three years or so, the Diana would be at the 

 very head of native grapes. 



Mr. Underhill proposed to add the Elsinhorough (often incor- 

 rectly spelled Elsinburg, as he said.) Mr. Downing was opposed to 

 this. The grape was small, with large seeds, and the Congress was 

 pledged to recommend only the Jbest fruits. Dr. Monson said this 

 fruit was peculiarly liable to be carried off by the birds. 



Mr. Hancock said it was true this was a small grape, but it was 

 very fine, in his locality, finer than the Catawba. Mr. Cleveland of 

 New-Jersey said, if well cultivated, it" yielded a large crop of good 

 fruit. Many of his neighbors esteemed it more highly than the Isa- 

 bella or Catawba, but he ranked it below them. 



Mr. HovEY observed that we ought to be very cautious in adding 

 to the list, for cultivators had a large number of seedlings coming up 

 every season, and we shortly should have something very superior. 

 The production of the Diana grape proved this, for that was but a 

 chance shoot from the Catawba. He hoped we should not adopt the 

 Elsinborough. ♦ 



The motion was put and rejected. ' 



Mr. S. B. Parsons then moved to add to the list for culture under 

 glass, the Zinfidel. It was a well-known hot-house grape, but suc- 

 ceeded perfectly well in the open air. 



Mr. Downing was sceptical as to this point. Dr. Monson said 

 there was no difficulty with it out of doors ; it was better than most 

 in the open air, and not apt to mildew. He had cultivated it for ten 

 years, and knew but one season when it did not ripen well, and then 

 the Isabella did not come anywhere near it in point of ripeness. 



Mr. HovEY said it was a very fine fruit. He saw it first at the 



