602 Transactions of the American Institute. 



never see what that man, whoever he was, did to deserve his $100. 

 Tlie Concord was widely cultivated, and all my money did was to 

 advertise a grape already known ; thus improvement was not stimu- 

 lated, but rather checked. I am a little discouraged by the result, 

 and do not propose to ofter another bank note for a plate of common 

 grapes. To my taste, the Concord has no quality superior to tiie wild 

 wood grape of my boyhood. I admit that it is hardy and prolific ; 

 but, after all, is it much of a fruit ? I hope others will take up this 

 matter^ and at length bring out a grape hardy, productive, adaptive 

 and liigli flavored. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — As a member of that committee, a word of 

 explanation may be in point. There were two committees. The 

 first decided on tlie lona, and Dr. Grant claimed the award as the 

 originator of the lona. But there was a protest, a delay, a change in 

 the personnelle of the committee, and the feeling with those who made 

 the final award was that a grape like the lona, known only to a few 

 amateurs, did not come up to the requirements of Mr. Greeley, and 

 should not receive the money. 



Mr. Horace Greeley. — What I complain of is the eagerness of the 

 committee. I did not care if they waited five years, and thus gave 

 grape culturists a chance to enter new varieties. How do we know 

 but Caywood's grape, for instance, the Walter, is as hardy and well 

 suited to different soils as the Concord ? If the prize were now open 

 the Walter might take it for ought I know. 



Dr. E. Ware Sylvester. — Two years or more have elapsed since 

 that award, and has any grape risen up that could contest the palm 

 with the Concord ? This last fall, did not Concord receive the silver 

 cup at Cincinnati for being the best wine grape, and the best table 

 grape ? 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — While I agree with Mr. Greeley as to the quali- 

 ties of the Concord, yet I must say that he never put out $100 that 

 has done more good to the farmers of this country. It arrested atten- 

 tion everywhere, and people began to buy Concord vines who never 

 bought before. It has been the means of planting a vine in 10,000, 

 yes, 100,000 yards and gardens. Of course we are not to rest in the 

 Concord ; but it is so much better than no grape, besides it afibrds 

 the best sort of a step])ing-stone to something superior. 



The special paper of the day was then read by Mr. Josej^h B. 

 Lyman on 



