No. 199.] 245 



Red. It was a large sized currant, which he regarded as the finest 

 of all. It had for two years taken the premium at Albany for size 

 and sweetness. 



Mr. BuisT thought it a very excellent currant and it grew in larg- 

 er bunches than other kinds. 



Mr. Hancock had cultivated this variety and had been humbugged; 

 he expected a sweet currant and got one as sour as any of them. He 

 could not tell the difference between this and the Red Champagne 

 except from the labels on the bushes. 



Mr. Wilson said Mr. Hancock could not have got the right kind 

 of currant. Col. Hodge said he had it and had found it finer and 

 sweeter than any other. 



The motion did not prevail. 



Mr. Downing had next to submit, a small list of Fruits which give 

 promise of becoming worthy of general cultivation, which will be 

 found under this head in the general list. No debate occurred on 

 any of these fruits (further than is to be found in the preceding 

 pages,) excepting a few words concerning the McLaughlin Plum. 

 Mr. Little stated that it was introduced into Maine some seven or 

 eight years ago, and had ever since been steadily growing in public esti- 

 mation. This year the Fruit committee of the Bangor Horticultural 

 Society pronounced it superior to all varieties except the Green Gage. 

 Mr. Walker said that the committee of the Massachusetts Horticultu- 

 ral Society had given their opinion that it was a very excellent fruit, 

 approaching very nearly in flavor to the Green Gage. 



Mr. Downing then stated that he had in his possession a large num- 

 ber of reports, of which he had had no opportunity as yet to make a 

 digest, and he asked the pleasure of the Congress in relation to them. 



On motion of Mr. McIntosh, it was voted that they be referred 

 to the chairman of the General Fruit Committee for revision, and 

 then to the Secretaries to be published with the doings of this Con- 

 gress. 



Mr. Saul suggested the expediency of some action going to fix a 

 determinate day for the next meeting at Cincinnati. A long discus- 

 sion ensued on this subject, in which Messrs. Saul, McIntosh, 

 HoDGE, Wilson, S. B. Parsons, Walker, Hovey, Hancock, Ham- 

 ilton and Cleveland participated. The debate was of no impor- 

 tance and finally the whole matter was laid on the table, thus leaving 

 the settlement of the particular time (as was contemplated by the 



