PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 231 



Mr. Carpenter said the Isabellas were never so good with him 

 as the present year. 



Mr. Fuller thought the Isabellas as good this year as ever, but 

 that they were "nowhere" in comparison with the Diana, the 

 Catawba, the Delaware, and other varieties. 



The chairman could not agree with Mr. Fuller. It might be 

 that in age, one remembered and loved the things of their youth 

 better than those of the present, but he must certainl}'- say the 

 Isabella was his favorite grape. 



In reply to a question, Mr. Fuller spoke of the Diana grape as 

 being a great bearer. 



The regular questions of the day were then read. The one on 

 fruit and fruit-houses, ojffered by Mr. Carpenter, was taken up 

 and discussed at length. Mr. C. said he was not fully prepared 

 to submit a plan for a fruit-house, but would do so at the next 

 meeting. In reference to packing fruit he thought wheat or rye 

 bran the very best article in which to pack for transportation. 

 For the preservation of fruit he thought a room constructed 

 above ground would be found the most effective. 



Mr. Pardee had no confidence in any kind of material for pack- 

 ing or preserving fruit. The French plan for a fruit room he 

 thought the best. This was to select a spot on the right kind of 

 soil (porous and well drained,) and upon this to erect a house 

 twenty feet square. The walls being of mud or clay, and one 

 foot thick ; outside of this wall and one foot from it another should 

 be constructed, eighteen inches thick, also of mud, the roof being 

 of the same material ; the doors so to be placed as not to be 

 directly opposite each other, and the ventilation to be eifected 

 through a small aperture in the upper corner of the inner roof. 

 A room like this could be kept at an even temperature, and by 

 this plan he had known fruit to be preserved for many months. 



Mr. Carpenter, being called upon, named five varieties of apples 

 as being best adapted to winter use, as follows : Rhode Island 

 Greening, Baldwin. Monmouth Pippin, Smith's Cider, and the 

 English Russet. He also, by request, named some varieties of 

 winter pears, among which he considered the Lewis and McLough- 

 lin varieties asthe most desirable. 



Mr. Fuller thought the " Lawrence " the best variety of winter 

 pear now under cultivation in America. He would also suggest 

 the "Vicar of Wakefield," which was a fine grower and a great 

 producer. 



