256 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



seen. They were from the farms of Edward Willis and Stephen 

 Barnes of Harrison township, Westchester county. These were 

 considered remarkably fine specimens by the club. Mr. C. said 

 he thought Mr. Barnes had 500 barrels of such. In all that part 

 of the county, the apple crop is not only large, but the fruit is 

 the finest grown in a great many years. Mr. C. also showed some 

 fine specimens of winter pears some of which will keep till May. 



THE VANDEVERE APPLE. 



Wm. Lawton. — Here are some fine Vandevere apples from a 

 tree that is over 100 years old, perhaps 150 years, which bore 

 this year at least twenty bushels of apples. The tree is still very 

 healthy and several feet in diameter. The branches have spread 

 very wide and high. I have some Fall pippin trees forty feet 

 high. And here is an excellent apple called the " Grandfather 

 apple." I have here some Newtown pippins, also very much 

 blushed. These are from trees 60 or 70 years old at least. These 

 old trees have all been " digged about and dunged," for I culti- 

 vate the ground as a garden and for small fruits. The grandfather 

 apple is an early and good fruit. The Vicar of Wakefield pear, 

 which I hold in my hand, I can produce in great quantities, but 

 I do not esteem it for anything but a cooking pear. 



ISABELLA GRAPES. 



The Chairman introduced specimens of Isabella grapes grown 

 at Fordham, to vindicate the character of this variety. These 

 were eaten, and pronounced excellent. They certainly were supe- 

 rior to any Isabella grapes we have tasted this year. 



THE EXCESS OF FRUIT IN THIS MARKET. 



Mr. Carpenter stated that the quantity of apples now coming 

 into the city from Westchester County, is not less than 25 , 000 

 barrels a week. The pippins bring $1.75 a barrel, and common 

 fall apples only $1 a barrel. 



Dr. Trimble stated that he knew of farmers who had sent apples 

 to market which did not pay expenses. I tasted very large, fine 

 Seckel pears from Norfolk, about six weeks ago. Now we have 

 them in profusion from Central New York. This makes a long 

 season for this excellent variety. The fault with this kind of 

 pears is that they grow so small. Perhaps by high cultivation 

 we may get them, »as a general thing, as large as those from Nor- 

 folk or those from Aurora. 



