370 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE. 



Dec. 



The Delaware Gr^pe. — We have thus far tak- 

 en the position that this grape was not a grape for 

 genera] culture throughout our State, at least with 

 the present state of our knowledge in regard to it, 

 an opinion to which we still adhere, though the 

 time may come when it will be so well understood 

 that it may well claim such a position. 



In the spring of 1859, we paid Samuel Moulson, 

 of Rochester, N. Y., nine dollars for three grape 

 vines under this name. They have proved to be a 

 sickly growing vine, with leaves smaller than the 

 Delaware and have never borne a cluster of 

 grapes, though in a good border against a south 

 trellis, six feet high boarded tight. We supposed 

 this to be true Delaware of course, and said hard 

 things on its account, but like many other things 

 sent us by Mr. Moulson, has proved to be untrue 

 to name. These things have had two effects, one 

 to disappoint us, and the other to lose Mr. M. a 

 large and promising trade with ourself and others. 

 Our second attempt was with a dozen grafted vines 

 from J. L. Stetzing & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, in 

 the spring of 1861. These have fruited thisj'ear 

 in a small way, but have not come up t© our ideas 

 of a grape for the million. We have now ordered 

 seventy-five first class vinea of J. II. Stewart, of 

 Quincy, who has been so successful with this his 

 favorite grape. A part of these we shall put in 

 the vineyard and treat them according to instruc- 

 tions from Mr. S. We are pleased with the fruit 

 of this grape and do not know how to do without 

 it, and now that we have good vigorous layers, we 

 shall hope to succeed. As a general thing our 

 German gardners do not succeed well v.'ith Ameri- 

 can grapes, and we have made a change to native 



talent. 



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Direction Tags. — These are now made in Chica- 

 go by S. S. Miller. We observe two qualities, one 

 of cloth and paper, and the other all cloth. The 

 cloth will be found the most valuable, especially 

 where liable to become wet. Our nurserymen will 

 do well to bear this in mind when making up their 

 orders. One thing more is needed in this line, and 

 that is wooden labels for nursery trees and plants. 

 Plenty of these are made at the East, but the cost 

 of transportation puts them beyond our reach. 

 Some lame soldier having a. little ingenuity, could 

 make a good living at m.iking these little wooden 

 labels for nurserymen and gardeners' use. 



Mr. Miller has sent us a sample of a tin label for 

 trees, to be written on with chemical ink, and 

 which he warrants to last five years. We doubt 

 the utility of these, though their cost without wire, 

 ^ only three dollars a thousand. We have given 

 that Vind of label a trial, and discarded it a half a 



dozen years since, marking on the outer bark as 

 described in another part of the paper, is a good 

 mode of perpetuating the na g e. 



Report op the Commissioner of Agriculture. — 

 We have read the most of this report, being the 

 first one issued- from the new office. The work is 

 a highly valuable one, and should be in the hands 

 of our farmers generally. We trust the present 

 Congress will place sufficient funds in the hands of 

 Com. Newton to enable him to extend his useful- 

 ness. 



The subjects most interesting to the West are 

 the wheat plant, fruits, including outlines of seve- 

 ral varieties, and sheep husbandry. The statisti- 

 cal tables will be found highly interesting. The 

 chapter on tlie climatology of grapes, will be found 

 new to most readers, and to a great extent unravels 

 the mystery of grape culture, and shows what vari- 

 eties to plant in given locations. 



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Xative Apples. — Edward J. Evans, of York» 

 Pa., has sent us a descriptive catalogue of native 

 apples, containing nearly four hundred varieties. 

 Those wishing any of these will do well to send for 

 a catalogue. Mr. Evans is doing a good work in 

 making this collection. It is probable that many 

 of them will prove valuable. We observe but three 

 from this State — Dana, Early Pound and Fulton. 

 The Dana, if we recollect, was shown at the Bur- 

 lington meeting by the late William Stewart, of 

 Payson, 111., and highly vecommended by him. — 

 We do not think he claimed it as an Illinois seed- 

 ling. Will J. H. Stewart, of Quincy, give us some 

 light on this subject. 



Flowering Bulbs. — James Vick, of Rochester, 

 N. Y., has sent us his list of bulbs for 1863. The 

 prices are low. Last spring we sent to Mr. Vick 

 fc flower seeds and were much pleased with our 

 purchase. The seeds were fresh and came up re" 

 markably well. Mr. V. is a practical florist and 

 knows what he sends out. If you want reliable 

 seeds give him an order. 



Edtiorial Courtesies. 



The Ohio Farmer has recently shown a great 

 aversion to offering subscribers grape vines and 

 strawberry plants as gratuities, asserting that it is 

 all a humbug, &c., and warn the public how they 

 are led into such a "net," &c. This we attributed 

 to the probable fact that the proprietors of that 

 paper had no vines, &c., to give to their subscri- 

 bers, and were too poor to buy any ; but to our 

 surprise we find in the next issue, after a fling at 

 the grape vine and strawberry gratuitiea, the 

 following : 



