No. 133.] '33 



my earliest boyhood rambles through the woods. It was exhibit- 

 ed at the late show of the New- York Horticultural society, and 

 Metropolitau liall was redolent of its peculiar odor. On the 

 second day of the exliibition, the same grape was sent in by the 

 Shakers of Lebanon under the name of " seedling muscadine ;" 

 but they were not allowed to be entered on account of their offen- 

 sive smell. I have seen the same grape elsewhere under other 

 names ; indeed, one might almost say that it may be found grow- 

 ing wild from Maine to Florida. My own opinion is, that, com- 

 pared with the Isabella, Catawba, Brown's Seedling, Early York, 

 Diana and some others, it is a worthless grape : among the poorest 

 of all our natives. This is not my opinion alone j it is also that 

 of the judges at Castle garden and the New-York Horticultural 

 society; indeed I have heard but one opinion from persons who 

 know what the first requisite of a good grape is. It is large, and 

 that is the best that can be said of it ; it is wanting in all other 

 good points. No degree of culture can ever make it a first-rate 

 ■grape, though it may possibly improve it. I state my opinion the 

 more freely because of the fictitious character under which it has 

 been placed before the community. The stories that are told of 

 its " growing in large clusters like other grapes ;" of its "being 

 juicy and very sweet flavored," and "commanding an advanced 

 price over any other ever grown," &c., are purely fabulous. I 

 have now done what I would do in regard to any inferior article 

 exhibited in the department under my charge, if brought before 

 the public under similar circumstances ; nay it is only what I 

 have done before, and will do again in the way of duty. 



Townend Glover, Esq., ofFishkill Landing, exhibited a part of 

 his composition model fruit, which, as usual, were examined with 

 a high degree of interest, which they have never failed to excite 

 wherever they have been seen. Much has been said of the sur- 

 prising truthfulness of these models, to which I again bear a will- 

 ing testimony. It is a remarkable fact, that a great majority of 

 visitors went away under the impression that they had been look- 

 ing at very choice specimens of real fruit ; and one person seem- 

 ed quite annoyed Avhen an attempt was made to [undeceive him, 

 not liking to acknowledge that his eyes had misled him. On the 

 contrary, another person, after having discovered his mistake, 



[Assembly No. 133.] * 3 



