274 Transactions of the A 3f eric an Institute. 



the only grape we liave that dries up into a raisin, instead of decaying 

 on the vine. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — How does it stand winters ? 



Mr. A. J. Caywood. — It never looked so well as now. The extreme 

 •cold of last season did not affect it at all. The wood is in fine order, 

 and it seems, so far in its history, entirely free of mildew. Mr. Ferris 

 read communications from Alexander Palmer, a well known grape 

 cultnrist in Ulster county, and from others on or near the ITudBon, 

 W'ho have this grape or have seen it growing, indorsing all the good 

 points claimed for it. Messrs. Ferris and Caywood asked for a com- 

 mittee of the club to go to their vineyards ; and the chairman assured 

 him that a good committee should be sent up whenever they were 

 disposed to make such visit agreeable. 



Whether Crows are Mischievous. 



Mr. Horace Mudge addressed a letter to the club, expressing his 

 astonishment at the views of Mr. Fuller and others as ex]3ressed at 

 the meeting two weeks ago. " Are you," says he, " a set of humani- 

 tarians who live in the city and have theories, but never saw a crow, 

 or do you know what you recommend when you urge farmers to tame 

 crows and have them all about the house and garden to pick up wire 

 worms and caterpillars ? 



Mr. Horace Greeley. — I believe that crows, notwithstanding all that 

 "has been said against them, are among the farmer's best friends and 

 T)enefactors. And to test this matter practically, I desire to ask if 

 any fanner ever saw a crow eating ripe corn, or doing any kind of 

 mischief. For my part, I do not credit the accusations that have been 

 -prefeiTed against this useful bird. 



Mr. A. * J. Caywood. — I have seen crows collect ip corn-fields by 

 the thousands, and strip the grain off almost every ear outside of the 

 stooks. I k.now they do an immense amount of damage to corn-fields ; 

 and I do not believe that the benefit which accrues from the grubs 

 they destroy will balance the damage done by them. 



Mr. S. Edwards Todd.— I have been so much amused at this crow 

 discussion that I thought I would say nothing. But I know that crows 

 are relentless robbers and blood-thirsty murderers. Every attribute in 

 the character of these rapacious birds is as black with crime, as the 

 plumes that cover their bodies. Like sneaking cowards, they hover 

 about our sheep folds, and pounce upon the innocent and tender lambs 

 the moment they spring into life, and pick out their eyes before 



