1863. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
83 
its great vigor; a root stuck in the ground careless- 
ly, would be likely lo grow with or without care, and pro- 
duce an abundance of fair quality grapes. It would per- 
haps best meet the wishes of the great mass of careless 
or inexperienced cultivators. The Delaware would give 
the best fruit lo those who would take any pains in culti- 
vating it. The Hartford Prolific was an early grape, a 
vigorous grower and bearer, but these qualities were 
nearly equalled in the Diana, and its sweeter flavor would 
be relished by many ; to make up a variety, therefore, he 
would put the Diana third in the list, instead of the Hart- 
ford Prolific. 
Solon Robinson gave Delaware, Concord and Hartford 
Prolific as his choice. 
Mr. Pardee would place the Delaware at the head of 
the list: thinks from what he has seen, that when the vines 
get older they will bear as well as the Concord. It has 
not hail lime lo show what it will do. lie would add 
Concord and Diana, and for those which promise well, 
Hartford Prolific, Allen's Hybrid, and Isabella. The lat- 
ter Is, in many localities, loo fine a grape to he discarded. 
Mr. (Javanagh said he hail had charge of the original 
Isabella vine, and did not believe that one vine in (en of 
those know n by that name, was of the true kind. 
The vote on varieties for general cultivation was taken 
as noticed in another column. 
January 29. 
Discussion upon Grapes resumed. In answer to queries 
about the Anna, Messrs. Field and Carpenter concurred 
uVeOnsidering it ton laic, but that it is not yet fully tcsled. 
Mr. Carpenter thinks that, among White grapes, Allen's 
Hybrid is the most promising. It ripens with the Diana, 
or a little before it. A hardy white grape is very much 
needed. The Rebecca is'a good bearer, has a fine hunch 
and desirable fruit, but makes a very delicate growth. 
Mr. Fuller considers that all of our native white grapes 
arc seedlings of the Isabella— are albinos, so to speak, 
and arc of weak constitution. Allen's Hybrid has poor 
foliage ; he thinks it is not a hybrid. Hopes it is, but 
doubts. A Committee was appointed to test the great 
California pear. Their decision will be found on page 81. 
Mr. Carpenter exhibited about half a peck of Vicar of 
Winkficlil pears, which were freely tested and showed 
the efficacy of his plan of preserving them in oat chaff. 
Some lists were handed in by members of the Commit- 
tee on Apples, which gave rise to some discussion. 
In answer to the question if fruit growers near New- 
York had found the apple crop profitable iri a year of such 
plenty as the lasi: Mr. Carpenter replied that with cider 
at 10 cents a gallon, it would pay even for cider making. 
He thought that all good anil well cared for fruit had 
brought paying prices during the last season, and that he 
was encouraged to increase his orchard. 
Harvey Dodge of Worcester Co., Mass., has been pre- 
paring ground for an orchard by thorough draining, at an 
expense of $200 per acre. Is planting largely of the Hub- 
bardston Nonsuch. Is trying the Northern Spy, which 
does well. 
February 5. 
Mr. Baldwin, of Hanover Neck, N. J., exhibited Peck's 
Pleasant apples of great beauty and fine size. Considers 
the tree a great bearer, and knows of nothing better. They 
sold readily this winter at $1 a bushel. 
The Diana grape was discussed. Mr. Fuller does not 
fancy it much, as it ripens poorly, and of uneven size ; 
considers it an improvement on the Catawba. 
Mr. Judd planted Dianas in 1856, and fin-Is them to be 
strong growers and prolific, and prefers it to Hie Concord. 
Mr. Wood slated that at Croton Point, it does not ripen 
every year, but when well ripened, it is superior to the 
Delaware. Placed on the list for special localities. 
The Isabella next came up for consideration, but the 
remarks upon it were of a similar character to those al- 
ready given above. 
Large Returns from Small Outlay. 
A correspondent, Joshua Thornby, of Green- 
field, Muss., wishes us to call attention to a prof- 
itable kind of gardening "which he has followed 
for some time — that of raising early plants for 
sale. He thinks thai, from his experience, ouc 
subscriber of the Agriculturist in every village in 
the country, can realize a handsome sum by rais- 
ing plants and properly advertising them. 
From beginning in a small way, his sales have 
increased to if 100 annually. He says: "It 
will be necessary to carefully tend, and properly 
transplant the hot-bed plants, that, they may 
fono huge fibrous roots and short, stocky stems; 
to be very careful in getting the best varieties, 
and the purest seed, and by judiciously timing 
the sowing and transplanting of the various 
plants, to keep the beds always occupied to the 
end of the season. I have one hot-bed 18 ft. by 
3i, and another 25x6, and from these beds I 
last year sold, 1000 tomato plants, 600 celery 
plants, 500 asters, 100 pansies, 150 Japan pinks, 
100 Winter Cherry, and a few Verbenas, Fuchsias 
and other bedding plants, and notwithstanding 
the comparatively large sum realized, I might 
have sold $20 worth of cabbage and other hardy 
plants which I lost by cut worms and severe 
weather. Now, Sir, don't you, and some of your 
subscribers think that $100 is worth trying for 
when it may be made with so much pleasure, and 
so little expense or trouble. I attend to sowing 
my beds and transplanting after factoiy hours, 
and wife attends principally to the sales. But 
don't think, dear Sir, that we deny ourselves any 
good thing from our garden just to make it pay; 
for besides what we sold last year from our 
farm of 10 rods, we raised I bushel of Isabella 
grapes, (and laid the foundation for future Del- 
awares), many quarts of strawberries, 30 bunches 
celery, a bushel each of beets and turnips, 
(White French), tomatoes ad infinitum, 20 cauli- 
flowers, 30 cabbages, (and I must confess it, sev- 
eral pounds of tobacco,) a dozen fine squashes, 
besides enough peppers, salads, corn, beans, cur- 
rants, and etceteras, and A dozen beds of as beau- 
tiful flowers as even you would wish to see." 
What Grapes to Plant. 
The Fruit Growers Meeting, having disposed 
of the pear question (as reported in the January 
Agriculturist, page 17,) next proceeded to the dis- 
cussion of the varieties of Grapes, a brief summa- 
ry of the first part of which is presented in the 
preceding columns. It was agreed to adopt four 
separate lists of three kinds in each. Special 
reference was had to a circuit of 100 miles around 
New- York City as the center, though the lists 
adopted, apply pretty generally over the coun- 
try, exceptions being made for wide differences 
of climate, location, etc. The four lists are : 
I. — Three best kinds of grapes, sufficientlj' test- 
ed to warrant .their recommendation for 
GENERAL CULTIVATION. 
II. — Three kinds known to bo good in special 
localities, as on favorable soils or where 
sheltered, or under the ameliorating influ- 
ence of large bodies of water. 
III. — Three kinds promising well, but not so 
extensively tested as to warrant their being- 
yet placed in the first or second lists. 
IV. — Three good wine chapes for general cul- 
tivation. 
After full discussion and comparison of views, 
during several weeks, the question was put lo a 
direct vote by handing in written lists, the voting 
being done only by those qualified to do so by 
experience and observation. The votes stood : 
19 for Delaware; 19 for Concord; and 13 for 
Hartford Prof tic, and some for Diana, etc. On 
a rjivision vote, as to which should be placed 
first, the vote stood 13 for Delaware, and 8 for 
Concord. This settled, the Concord received a 
unanimous vote for the second on the list. For 
the third, Hartford Prolific received 17 votes, and 
Diana 4 votes. 
Over the second class there was also much 
discussion as indicated in our report. The Dia- 
na was placed first by general consent, all con- 
ceding it to be of excellent flavor, and a strong 
grower, but some complained that it did not 
ripen evenly. The Isabella was placed second, 
but not without some protests, several gentle- 
men claiming that it should be discarded entire- 
ly. Its great success in the city yards of New 
York and Brooklyn where many tons of it are 
annually grown, also at Croton Point, at Na- 
ples, N. Y., and elsewhere, was sufficient to save 
it from being thrown aside. It usually needs 
special protection of buildings, or of surround- 
ing hills, or the influence of large bodies of wa- 
ter upon the atmosphere. The Catawba was 
placed third, with the same general qualifica- 
tion as the Isabella, and the additional one that 
it ripens later, and can not therefore be grown 
as far north. The first two lists therefore stand : 
Fur General Culture. 
1 Df.laware. 
2 Concord. 
3 Hartford Prolific. 
For Special Locality 
1 Diana. 
2 Isabella. 
3 Catawba. 
The third and fourth lists are still under dis- 
cussion at the time of this writing (Feb. 10th). 
There are several candidates for favor. Two or 
three would stand a fair chance for recommen- 
dation, but for the fact that the whole stock of 
vines is yet in the possession of a few individ- 
uals, and there is, at these meetings, a decided 
opposition to favoring individual interests. 
But of these lists hereafter. 
Tobacco— Preparation of Seed Beds. 
We have already received a number of essays 
on Tobacco Culture, but as all that are expect- 
ed, have not yet come in, we are not able to pub- 
lish the prize article this month. It being nec- 
essary to commence the preparation for the 
crop as soon as the ground can be worked, we 
give a few directions for the seed-bed. It is better 
to prepare the plot in the preceding Fall, but 
where that has not been done, the bed should 
be made ready as early as possible. A sheltered 
locality, where the cold winds are broken by 
woods or some other protecting objects, and 
having a good exposure to the sun, should be 
chosen. The ground should be made rich 
with plenty of hog manure, well spaded in ; 
and then, just before planting, it should be 
covered with brush, which is to be burned on 
it. The burning of the brush serves to destroy 
the seeds of weeds, and furnishes a dressing of 
ashes, which is beneficial to the young plants. 
The time of sowing will depend upon the sea- 
son and latitude : from the first to the middle ot 
April being the time for Connecticut. About a 
square rod of ground is allowed for the seed bed 
for an acre. It would be better to lay Ibis out 
in strips of about three feet in width, so as to 
allow the weeding to be done, without tramp- 
ling ou the bed. If the seed is good, a very 
small quantity will furnish plants for an acre, 
but it is best to have an abundance. A table- 
spoonful, well mixed with a pint of ashes or 
soil before sowing, will be plenty. The bed be- 
ing thoroughly raked, the seed is sown, and the 
earth either rolled, or pressed down by a plank. 
When the sowing is made late, the seed is 
sometimes sprouted by moistening it, and cover- 
ing with a damp cloth, and keeping it in a 
warm place. It takes about three weeks for 
the seed to germinate, and when it conies up, 
the plant is exceedingly minute. If the bed be- 
comes dry, it should be watered with blood- 
warm water. The choice of varieties should 
be governed somewhat b) r the experience of 
others in the neighborhood, there being many 
local sorts, which are considered best adapted 
to certain districts. The leading varieties in 
the market are: the Connecticut Seed Leaf— 
valued as wrappers to cigars — the Kentucky. 
Maryland, Ohio, and Havauna. 
