1807.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
439 
high, bearing 71 well developed and perfectly ripened 
bunches. Ionas were not largely exhibited, and speci- 
mens were generally rathe: - inferior; bunches loose and 
straggling, and imperfectly ripened. A few fair bunches 
from Lockport, N. Y., and from Erie Co., Ohio, were the 
best on exhibition, tolerably well ripened, but not equal 
to samples shown in former years. Reports in discussion 
and from private sources indicated that this variety had 
not generally met the expectations of planters. A few 
handsome, compact clusters of Israc]la and Adirondac 
were exhibited, about equal to those shown on farmer 
occasions. Dianas of remarkable size and excellence, 
with very heavy shouldered, compact bunches, beauti- 
fully colored, were shown, both from the Lake Shore re- 
gion, and also from Crooked Lake, X. T. The Detroit 
grape was again on exhibition ; but it was difficult to see 
any material difference between it and the Catawba, 
though the specimens shown were a little smaller, and the 
bunches a little more compact than the average of Cataw- 
bas. The general impression seemed to be that it was 
the Catawba, grown with some favorable advantages of 
location or position. The Lydia was represented by 
some fair specimens; bunches medium, compact; quality 
good. Cuyahoga was also shown of rather better quality 
than for two or three years past. Several plates of Re- 
beccas from the vicinity of Cleveland were very hand- 
some ; bunches large, compact, and fine. The sandy soil 
of that region seems well adapted to the growth of this 
variety. The Lorain grape was again on exhibition this 
season ; a very handsome grape, closely resembling the 
foreign white Chasselas, though its foliage is decidedly 
native. Bunch medium to large; berry large, slightly 
oval, semi-transparent; slightly pulpy, with pleasant 
sub-acid flavor. A seedling, evidently from the Dela- 
ware, originated at Dansville, jS". T., received the first 
premium for best unnamed seedling native grape. It re- 
sembles the Delaware in color and general appearance ; 
berries about the same size, bunches smaller; more 
pulpy; pleasant flavor, but quite strong, foxy odor. In 
no respect superior to Delaware. In addition to the sin- 
gle cane of Delaware before mentioned, very fine canes 
of Catawba, Isabella, Concord. Diana, and some others, 
were exhibited, indicating extraordinary productiveness, 
with great size and beauty of bunches and berries. The 
Walter was not on exhibition— its originator being, per- 
haps, better satisfied with publishing 2>^ ures exaggera- 
ting it about /our times larger than any specimens yet ex- 
hibited. Rogers 1 Hybrids were not largely represented, 
and the specimens were mostly rather indifferent. Some 
fine No. 15, were on exhibition from Cleveland. No other 
numbers were shown worthy of special notice. The 
"Wines on exhibition were good samples of still and 
sparkling, of various kinds, though generally not of any 
remarkable excellence above those exhibited in former 
years. Some Ives 1 Seedling wine from Cincinnati re- 
ceived special attention, and was really a fine, red wine 
of high character. Some pure sparkl ing Delaware, bottled 
during natural fermentation, and without the addition of 
engar, was also regarded as very superior. 
TUe Grape ExhibUiosi at SS5 
Broadway. — The occupancy of the new office was 
fitly *' solemnized " as the French say, by a magnificent 
show of native grapes,— a display that would be fine at 
tfhy season, but at tho late date of Oct. 2-ith was some- 
thing remarkable. 
As no general notice was given of our intention to hold 
an exhibition, some explanation is due to the many 
friends who were unable to participate in it. After our 
October issue had gone to press, we received an applica- 
tion from Mr. Knox for permission to show his grapes at 
our new office, on Oct. 17th ; this was readily acceded to, 
but the carpenters' work being delayed, the time was 
postponed to the 24th. As it was too late to extend a 
general invitation to grape-growers, we sent circulars by 
mail to such as we thought might be able to get their fruit 
here in time, and these were responded to by a sufficient 
number to make up. in addition to Mr. Knox's collection, 
one of the finest displays ever seen in the city. In addi- 
tion to the fruit, there was a large exhibition of vines, 
which gave an opportunity for comparing the products of 
different nurseries. Although we did not ask for contri- 
butions of wines, or other fruits than grapes, a few speci- 
mens of each were brought in, and are noticed elsewhere. 
In this exhibition no prizes were offered and no determi- 
nations made by any other committee than the public. 
Bach exhibitor was at liberty to advocate hi^ own fruits 
or vines— a plan which seemed to be satisfactory to all 
concerned. At the exhibitions of the Imperial Horticul- 
tural Society of France there arc no prizes offered, and 
the same thing is being advocated in England. From our 
experience in October, we feel sure that it will bring out, 
a larger number of contributors, and on the whole avoid 
much dissatisfaction. At the late meeting of the Lake 
Shore Grape-growers' Association, there were 2i) samples 
of Catawba so nearly alike, that the committee excused 
itself for its award on the plea that it must bo made to 
somebody, and regretted that they had no more premiums 
to give to others equally deserving with the recipient. 
The exhibition was open for three days, and was each 
day visited by thousands of interested spectators. On 
the 25th. at the suggestion of several grape-growers, an 
impromptu meeting was held for discussion. An abstract 
of its proceedings will be found in another item. Sub- 
joined is a list of entries in the order in which they were 
taken by the entry clerk, and on page 450 will be found 
notes upon many of the varieties. 
J. Knox, Pittsburgh, Pa., by Gen. J. S. Ncglcy: Con- 
cord, Hartford, Crcveling, Ives, Elsingbnrgh, Hcrbemont, 
Martha. Anna. Taylor, Maxatawney, Clinton, Rogers 1 Hy- 
brids Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 23, 30, 32, 33, 3-1, 36, 
39,41,43,44, Salem, Rachel, Cuyahoga, Miner's Seed- 
ling, Northern Muscadine, Mary Ann, North Carolina 
Seedling, Oporto, Perkins, Cigar Box, Diana, To Kalon, 
Union Village, Norton's Virginia, Logan, Adirondac, 
Louisa, York Madeira. Isabella, Mottled, Catawba, Ioua, 
Israella, Alvey, Rebecca, Delaware. Besides samples in 
plates, many of the varieties were exhibited in o-lb. 
boxes. Large fruiting canes of Concord, Delaware and 
Hcrbemont were shown. — C. M. Beach, West Hartford, 
Conn. : Iona, Israella. — Jas. A. Requa, Amenia, N. T. : 
Salem. — Clias. Siedhof, North Hobokcn: Weehawkeu, 
Union Village, Jersey Black, Alvey. — Jno. W. Bailey & 
Co., Pittsburgh, N. Y. : Adirondac— L. Phillips & 
Son. Berlin Heights, 0. : 2 plates Iona.— B. F. Hopkins, 
Brownhelm, O.: 1 box Iona.— B. Summers, Vermillion, 
Erie Co., O. : 3 plates Iona. — J. H. Ricketts, Ncwburgh, 
N. Y. : Iona, Clinton, Cuyahoga, Herbemont, Allen's 
Hybrid, Israella, Rebecca, Crcveling.— Lean dcr Clark, 
Ncwburgh, N. Y. : Isabella, Montgomery, Delaware. — 
Charles Downing, Newburgh, N. Y. : Iona, Delaware, Is- 
raella. — J. F. Lowry, Berlin Heights, O. : 2 plates Iona. 
— C. W. Graut, Iona, near Peekskili, N. Y. : Several 
plates Ioua, amounting in all to about 30 lbs., 5 plates 
Israella. — n. Cornell, Newburgh, N. Y. : 2 plates 
Iona. — Pleasant Valley Wine Co., llammoudsport, N. 
Y., by E. Van Keuren,: Catawba, Diana, Delaware. — D. 
S. Wagencr, Crooked Lake, near Hammondsport, N. Y. : 
Diana, and Catawba, in five-pound boxes, andloua.— Olm 
Brothers, Springfield, Mass. : 2 Unnamed Seedlings. — 
Jacob Newkirk, Hudson City, N. J. : Raspberries.— Chas. 
Arnold, Paris, Canada: Seedlings 1, 2, 16, 5 (white.)— 
Geo.W. McDowell, Crooked Lake, N. Y.: Keuka. — Vines. 
The following were exhibited and many of them sold : — 
Peter Do Pew & Son, Nyack, N. Y. : Iouas and Allen's 
Hybrid; 1 year; the latter in pot.— F. F. Mcrceron, 
Catawissa, Pa. : Crcveling, Concord, Delaware, Clinton, 
Taylor, Franklin.— Richardson & Bellows, Geneva, N. 
Y. : Ionas and Israellas, 1 year. — J. F. Martin, Mt. 
Washington, O. : Ives' Seedling. — Lyman Basset, North 
Haven, Conn. : Concord and Hartford Prolific. — L. L. 
WhHIock, 37 Park Row, N. Y., had seventy entries of 
vines, showing the manner in which he unites u all nur- 
series in one. 1 ' We have not space for the list, but it in- 
cludes both standard 6orts and novelties. — J. W. Han- 
more, Newburgh, N. Y. : Salem, Iona, Israella, a large 
and fine assortment of various grades.— J. F. Deliot, 
Sing Sing, N. Y. : Iona, Israella, Adirondac, Delaware, 
Crcveling, Rebecca, Allen's Hybrid, several numbers of 
each sort. J. W. Bailey, Plat tsburg, N. Y. : Adirondac, 
1, 2, and 3 year vines.— N. II. Lindley, Bridgeport, Conn.: 
Salem, Rogers' No. 15, Rogers' No. 19, Ionas.— C. S. Ma- 
son, West Hartford, Conn. : Iona Nos 1 and 2, Allen's 
Hybrid, Israella, and very fine Iona wood.— A. F. Tait, 
Morrisania, N. Y. : Iona and Adirondac transplants and 
layers, Concord layers, Iona grafted, Concord, Israella, 
Iona and Adirondac wood.— C W. Grant, Iona, N. Y. ; 
Iona, 1 year.— Besides Grape-vines, L. L. Whitlock pre- 
sented an interesting collection of young evergreens, and 
Lyman Basset. New Haven, Conn., exhibited the Clarke 
Raspberry, with canes 10 feet high, large in proportion, 
and remarkably healthy, vigorous, and well-ripened. 
Editorial Jottings in Europe. 
11 Cn.vcow Salt Mtnes, Sept. 2 Avivid descrip- 
tion of these wonderful mines, read in a school-book of 
my boyhood days, produced a strong desire to visit them 
that has never left me, ami which to-day, nearly forty 
year-; afterward, has been gratified. At Trzebinia, about 
200 miles south of Warsaw, on the route to Vienna, we 
turned aside 27 miles to Cracow, whieh is in Austrian 
Poland, and about 26Q miles northeast of Vienna. Cra- 
cow is an old city, formerly containing S0.000 inhabitants, 
but reduced to less than half that number since the dis- 
memberment of Poland. There are many fine buildings, 
the relic* of former days, but even-thing is in a decayln ; 
condition. Tho people themselves look sad and dispir- 
ited, and I coHld not but feel sorrowful for them as I 
looked at the graves of Kosciusko. Sobicski. and of other 
heroes, and recalled the valor of this people who stcm- 
ni.-.l and broke the tide of Mohametanism, when its im- 
monse armies seemed about to overflow all Europe. ... 
The chief Salt Mines arc at Wieliczka, T miles southeast 
of Cracow A party of fifteen of us, men, women, and 
children, enveloped in long white frocks, and flannel 
caps, and supplied with two dozen Bengal lights to illu- 
minate the caverns, and accompanied by six guides car- 
rying large lamps, descended first through the shaft 
about 400 feet. Each one was seated in a rope sling, and 
the sling ropes were arranged in two clusters, one above 
the other, all the ropes being bound together above our 
heads into one immense cable that was wound upon a 
windlass turned by horse-power — a comical sight, resem- 
bling two huge bunches of grapes, (or white ghosts) let 
down by a string. Landing upon the firm salt bed we 
quickly clambered out of our slings, and found ourselves 
in a large artificial cavern, the walls of which were solid 
rocks of pure salt, but of a dark color. From this point 
we wandered some two miles or more, descending by 
steps cut in the salt here and there, or through inclined 
passages, until we were S00 or 900 feet below the surface, 
and we could have gone down 1.S00 feet. Above, around, 
and nnder our feet, there is nothing hut the rocks of salt 
as hard and firmer than compact white chalk, but with- 
out any cracks or seams, save here and there a slight bed 
or layer of stone or clay. Immense rooms, halls, chap- 
els, a dance hall, and altars, statues, obelisks, chande- 
liers, etc., cut in salt instead of marble, were visited in 
various parts of the mine, which extends nearly two miles 
from east to west, and over % mile north and south. 
Some of the passage ways, high enough to walk in, and 
wide enough for small hand-cars on iron rails, were 20 to 
50 rods in length. At one point we crossed a lake, per- 
haps 100 feet in diameter, in a large boat— the only water, 
or dampness even, that we met with. Our visit was very 
opportune, as we were preceded by a large party of 
wealthy gentlemen and ladies who had caused the pre- 
paration of thousands of lighted lamps, candles, Chinese 
lanterns, extensive fire-works, cannon, rockets, that 
echoed and re-echoed through the caverns like a hundred 
peals of deafening thnndcr. They had with them a large 
brass band, which, on learning that a party of Ameri- 
cans were approaching, struck up one of our national 
airs, as we entered a large cavern. The effect upon 
us was thrilling beyond measure. Those not too much 
affected tried to join in li My Country 'tis of thec, Sweet 
laud of liberty, etc." — and this, S00 feet beneath the soil 
'■where Kosciusko fell.*" — away in Austrian Poland 1 
Ton can imagine our emotions better than I can describe 
them! After wandering for hours, and having seen 
but a small part of the mines, but enough to satisfy us 
fully, we returned to the surface in the same novel man- 
ner as we had descended. The most timid ladies in our 
company fully enjoyed the whole excursion, except- 
ing the firing of the cannon These mines have been 
worked for at least 000 years. The salt grows purer or 
rnore transparent the further downward it is penetrated. 
Li some places the workmen blast out large blocks, but 
usually it is worked out the same as stone or marblo 
from the quarries. Great pieces are undermined with tho 
pick-axe, and then split off with wedges. These are 
broken into cubic blocks of a foot, more or less. In ono 
place we saw them hewing salt blocks into the shape of 
barrels, and putting the staves and hoops around the 
blocks. The chips of salt were beaten into a compact 
mass in other barrels. The salt is a government monop- 
oly, and the amount taken out depends upon the demand. 
More than a million of zeutners of salt per year have 
been quarried during many years past " 
u . ...VtEOTIA, Austria, Sept. 6th I have been pleas- 
antly disappointed in this city. The buildings are gen- 
erally in excellent stylo, and, except in the central part or 
the old city— the streets are wide, and all are neat and 
well kept. There is nn intelligent look in the counten- 
ances of all the people, an elasticity of step, and an air 
of business activity and thrift visible on all sides, such 
ns I have not seen anywhere else in Central Europe. I 
have not noticed a single beggar here, (always excepting 
the hotel employees, who crowd around yon at your de- 
parture, each with an outstretched hand for "poor 
hoife," or "drink-money 1 '— though you have paid your 
bill in full. " service" 1 included. t and nowhere else have I 
seen so few people in poor dress, wearing apparel so 
cheap, and other articles also— excepting the charges at. 
the hotels, tho proprietors of which seem to be proud 
of the reputation of charging higher than is done any- 
where else in Europe...:! forgot to tell yon that for 200 
miles of the route from Cracow here, we parsed through 
a most charming agricultural region. In clean, thorough 
culture, and in good crops and abundant fruit, I have sel- 
dom seen a region superior to this. Fine pears were 
offered by women at many of the stations, three, four, or 
five for the krcutzer(or 'i cent:). Large orchards of 
heavily leaded plum trees were frequent, and so abundant 
was this fruit that you could get your bat full of E pi CD did 
■_-iv.it plums for a penny or two. TheCurculio is evident- 
ly a stranger to this region. I dorTt wondei at the thrift 
of Vienna, when it is backed by such a rich farming re- 
gion as tho long and wide Valley of tho March River." 
