Pboceedings of the Farmers' Club. 601 



Mr. James A. Whitney. — He will find crude potash an 

 unmanageable substance unless he dissolves it in water. Then he 

 should mix it with dry peat. Thus he will get a very lively, active 

 manure for grass and tobacco, but less suited to grain. If he adds 

 a little salt it will be improved as a drill manure for potatoes." 



"Which Geape is the Best? 



Dr. E. Ware Sylvester, of Lyons, N. Y., read a paper on the 

 Concord grape : 



An effort has been in progress for years to discover among our 

 native grapes, one which in healthfulness, hardiness and productive- 

 ness, should be adapted to the wants of the million. To this end 

 the prize of $100 was, years ago, oU'ered by Horace Greeley, and 

 other prizes have since been awarded. You are well aware that tlie 

 Greeley prize was given to the Concord. This brought out a torrent 

 of abuse mainly from those interested in other vines, and even Dr. 

 Greeley, with his usual kindly feelings, thought it best to apply a 

 Tribune soothing plaster to the wounded head of lona island. To 

 the base insinuations which were made in the public prints, the mem- 

 bers of the Greeley committee made no reply, and make none now ; 

 they were willing that time and experience, the great regulators in 

 agricultural matters, should justify, as they v/ere sure to do, the 

 award of the committee. Dr. S. then proceeded to cite a large, 

 number of authorities, statements of farmers, nurserymen, vineyardists 

 and vintners in all parts of the country, showing that the Concord 

 grape is more successful and gives better satisfaction than any other. 

 Some vineyards have given remarkable crops. Geo. Husman, of 

 Missouri, speaks of fifteen tons from an acre, or enough grapes to 

 yield, if pressed, 2,500 gallons of wine. This is clearly an exceptional 

 case. The evidence is that, as a rule, the Concord yields from five 

 to eight tons per acre. 



Mr. Horace Greeley. — As the prize I offered has been directly 

 alluded to by Dr. Sylvester, I may say that with the award of that 

 committee I had nothing at all to do. When they came to their 

 decision I paid over the $100. But the end I had in view was not 

 attained by that investigation. I intended to stimulate the production 

 of new and better vines, and hoped some grape would be brought out 

 having the hardiness and adaptability to soils and climates of the 

 Concord, good bearing qualities, and, what the Concord wants, high 

 and delicate flavor. But the award was to the Concord, and I could 



