1865, 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
69 
THE IONA AND ISEAELLA VINES, 
And matters connected wit It tlieiii of Importance to Piircliasers 
of Viness 
(•t« TUe cliarges against C, 'W. GItAJrT, ol 
stupendous fraud in hastening the ripening of the 
Iona and Israella grapes by means of “forcing arrangements 
of glass,” etc., “ which hastened their maturity three weeks 
In advance of those grown without such arrangements.” 
iSd. The publication of these charges in the 
Ohio Parmer, under the signature of “Peconic,” and in 
the American Agriculturist, by the same party, over his own 
name. 
3d. The Greeley Prizes, and the award of 
the One Hundred Dollar Fi'ize to the Iona. 
The charges, or, rather, insinuations by Mr. Byram that 
this award was dishonestly and corruptly made, implicating 
the Committee, Mr. Greeley, and C. W. Grant, in the perpe¬ 
tration of a gross fraud. 
Ath. The same charge, more covertly made 
in the American Agriculturist, when introducing 
the accusation of Mr. Byram. 
5th. The claim of the American Agricul¬ 
turist that it should not be held as a prin¬ 
cipal Party in the Libel against C. 'W. Grant, implying 
its right to publish accusations the most destructive to repu¬ 
tation and business, under tlie plea tliat it does not know 
tliem to be false, and tliat it entertains no malice against 
the aosused. 
6th. The fallacy and wrong of this Plea, 
and the Opinion of one of tire most able Le¬ 
gal gentlemen of New-Yorh upon the subject. 
7th. The accusatijns of “ Pij-acy ” and 
“Humbugging” against C. W. GRANT, for al¬ 
leged copying and imitating plates, and also of using some 
of the identical plates of a book Published by A. S. Fuller, 
on the Vine, in his own (C. W. Grant's) Publications, named 
severally. Descriptive Catalogue, Illustrated Catalogue, and 
Manual of the Vine. The truth shown to be quite the 
reverse. 
8th. Charges of Deception and nnbusiness-like 
conduct in claiming to produce better vines, by additional 
care and expense for garden and vineyard, than those ordi¬ 
narily produced by nurserymen. 
9th. Concerning the advocacy of new and 
peculiar theories, and new and peculiar methods ol 
cultivating and training Vines in garden and vineyard. 
10th. Is the present desire to plant the best 
kinds for family supply and for market, and 
also for wine, unreasonable, and what will 
be the result of it I 
lltli. Wlicrc can be found, precise, accu¬ 
rate and intelligible Descriptions of all of 
our Native Grapes, tliat are worthy of notice, so stated 
that an ordinarily Intelligent reader may learn their char¬ 
acter, quality and relative value. 
Pith. Upon what peculiar conditions of 
merit are the claims to Public Attention of 
the Dcseriptive Catalogue, Illustrated Catalogue and Man¬ 
ual of the Vine founded, and which are said to constitute 
them a thorough and cemprehensive treatise on the vine? 
The foregoelng twelve heads require each an extended 
chapter for the full consideration, which the subjects em¬ 
braced at present demand. Tiiis would require move room 
than the advertisiug columns of a periodical not specially 
devoted to the Vine, can furnish. There are other heads of 
equal, or even greater interest, not named. One of which 
is the History and Management of all of tlie Israelha and 
Iona Vines, at Iona Island, showing fully and fairly their 
deportment under given circumstances, from the beginning, 
up to the present time. Another is, an account of the man¬ 
ner in which these Seedlings were produced, by which hints 
will be furnished to others of the course ot proceeding to 
produce other improved kinds by “tliorough breeding,” 
which is undoubtedly the only method by which a hardy 
stock, perfectly adapted to this country can be obtained. 
I have prepared a pamphlet of twenty-four pages in which 
all of these matters are briefly, but clearly treated, and in a 
manner calculated to give a true Impression in regard to 
Grape Culture in all its aspects, whether for wine or for ta¬ 
ble—for market or for family supply. 
In this pamphlet, the distinctive characteristics of the 
Iona and Israella, in which they greatly excel all other 
grapes for market and for table use, are clearly represent'’d. 
The Israella being the earliest grape of excellent quality, 
and at the same time a good keeper, producing abundant 
crops unfailingly, as grown in the open ground under the 
ordinary circumstances of cultivation, or rather undewir- 
cumstances less favorable than those of ordinary garden or 
vineyard culture. 
The Iona is also represented as very early in ripening, and 
as the only American Grape of large size that is equal to the 
best European kinds, in sweet, rich purity of flavor, and uni¬ 
form tenderness and excellence of flesh quite to the center, 
and at the same time remarkable for the earliness and abund¬ 
ance of production, and its certainty of perfect ripening un- 
derthe conditions of ordinary cultivation in full exposure in 
open air. Mr. Byram states that “to his personal knowl¬ 
edge” this carliness and excellence of quality was produced 
by “forcing arrangements of glass and w.alls, or screens 
combined, by which the quality of the fruit was greatly im¬ 
proved, and the time of ripening hastened at least three 
weeks.” 
These charges, if substantiated, fix upon my character 
an accumuiation of guilt that is most painful to contemplate, 
combining falsehood in its most treacherous form, with clieat- 
ing that is worse than robbery. The etlect upon the Public 
will be to destroy gener.al confidence in all engaged in the 
business, and upon myself, the ineffaceable brand of infamy 
wiii be stamped, involving In lasting shame all tliat own 
any connection with me. 
These accusations were published in the Ohio Farmer, un¬ 
der the signature of “Peconic,” and in the .Vinerican Agricul¬ 
turist by the same party, under his own name, H. P. Byram. 
One of the prizes offered by Mr. Greeley, under certain 
conditions for the leading fruits, Apples, Pears and Grapes, 
was awarded to the Iona Grape, by the Committee of the 
Fruit Department of the American Institute, in Sept. last. 
The award of this important premium of One Hundred 
Dollars Mr. Byram represents as having been dishonorably 
and corruptly made, implicating the Committee, Mr. Greeley, 
and C. W. Grant, in the perpetration of a gross fraud. Tiie 
charge is pointedly made, but the precise form of the crime 
is not given. The same charge, more covertly, but not less 
certainly, is made by the American Agriculturist. This 
is also a matter ot much Importance, and I would hereby 
call upon the whole Committee to state to the Public not 
only whether any dishonorable or corrupt action or influence 
was manifested by myself, or in my behalf, but whether any 
such influence came to their knowledge from any quarter, 
and if so, what was the form and purport of it. 
I would here state, that no such transaction as is repre¬ 
sented, ever took place between Mr. Greeley and myself, and 
that I never paid, or procured to be paid to Mr. Greeley, or 
to the Tribune Association, any money except what was ap¬ 
plied for advertising, for which I have sent several sums of 
One Hundred Dollars each, and often much larger. 
The claim of the American Agriculturist, that it should 
not be held as a principal party in the libel against C. 
tv. Grant, is not to be entertained for one moment, and 
the plea that a character blighted, and a business destroy¬ 
ed, can be restored by a discussion on equal terms with 
the destroyer, with the Editor's whole weight thrown 
adversely at the beginning, and the calumniator placed with 
his falsehoods and wicked purposes, not only before, but 
also above his victim, by giving the presumption in favor 
of the accuser. The Editor is forgetfui of the principle 
upon which the proverb of acknowledged wisdom is 
founded: “ A malicious lie will travel many leagues, while 
truth is getting ready his sandals, and will be hospitably 
entertained where truth will be shut out.” 
A case In point Is ready at hand. A few weeks since a 
report was published in a leading paper representing me as 
a falsifier and swindler on a large scale. A full and com¬ 
plete refutation followed immediately, prepared and signed 
by men disinterest" ! .ind of high and weli known char.acter. 
Tlie malignant part of the report was copied In all parts of 
tlie country, with added venom, but tlie refutation not once. 
Tlie fallacy and injustice upon which the plea of the Agri¬ 
culturist is founded, are well disposed of in the following 
letter from one of the most eminent gentlemen of the New- 
York Bar, having this particular case in mind. 
New-Yoek, Jan. 12th, 1865, No. II Pino-st. 
Dr. C. tv. Grant. 
Pear Nir.—Nothing can be better established in law than 
that the Editor of a paper is responsible for everything that 
he admits into its columns, whether he is the author or not. 
If he permits libellous matter to be published, he must re¬ 
spond in damages to tlie extent of the injury inflicted, what 
ever that may be. 
He is not permitted to shield himself by the fact that the 
injurious publication was made without Iiis knowledge or 
consent, for the conductor of a public paper is bound by the 
highest obligarions._ to see to it that so powerful an engine as 
tlie press is not used by others, for wicked purposes. He is 
bound to know before he suffers anything to be published 
that it is true, and must answer for it if it is not, though 
actual malice on his part, can not be imputed to him. If the 
publication is .false, malice is always presumed from that fact, 
and the Editor who lends his columns to the defamer can 
overcome that presumption only by showing a degree ot 
carelessness on Ids part which is equally obnoxious to the law 
Yours truly, IVilliaji FuLLEKTOir. 
In defending myself against the charge of unfairness and 
dishonest}', under tlie Ttli head, I must necessarily become by 
implic.ation the accuser of A. S. Fuller. My publications con¬ 
taining these plates were chiefly made years before his 
book appeared, and of course could not have been taken 
from it. On the contrary, so many of the plates on the man¬ 
agement of the vine were my own (used without permission 
or one word of acknowledgment)—that if tliese were taken 
from his book, togellier with those copied or closely imi¬ 
tated, few of much value would be left. To my mind it is a 
flagrant case of violation of right, that should liavebeen pros¬ 
ecuted. Concerning the nuinerous errors into which he has 
fallen through ignorance and inexperience, i sliall speak 
elsewhere. 
In anstver to the 8th I would say that I was not only the 
first that practised the metliod of propagation tliat by 
tliorougli trial is proved and admitted to be the best, but was 
for several vears alone in it, and tliat all of the numerous im¬ 
itations now found in different parts of the country may be 
said to have grown out of mine. I may .also safely say that 
no one h.as nearly equalled mine in extent and means of pro¬ 
ducing tlie best vines for garden and viney.ard planting. 
The idea and purpose upon which I engaged in the under¬ 
taking, and to whicli I have persistently adlicred, was Tint 
PRODUCTION OF TIIE BEST I’LANT.S TO BE AFFORDED AT THE 
CHEAPEST rates to the people generally, making the business 
a SPECIALTY, and giving abundant means, with my whole 
care and attention to thatend. 
When after long study, careful observation and extensive 
trial, I have learned what is best for those who wisli to plant 
for anv given purpose, and have produced a stock of surpass¬ 
ing quality, there is no way apparent to me by wliich the 
public may be readied to enable it to be benefit'ted by them 
except bv'stating truly and precisely the character of what I 
have to offer. I liave done this so long and so extensively, and 
bv doing so have disseminated such a vast number of vines 
tlirougnout every part of the country, tliat iiiy jurors (the 
tirchasers) must now be ready for rendering a verdict. 
have recommended first class vines (tliat have been 
produced with great care and cost, and siicli as I felt assured 
were of unequalled qualitv), as tlie best and cheapest to pur¬ 
chasers for vinevards, as well as for gardens. 1 have produced 
large stocks of Delaware vines of this class for many years, 
increasing tlie number as the demand consequent upon their 
goodness and reputation increased. 
Last fall MORE than MT entire stock of DELAWARE AND 
Diana vines for vineyard planting were ordered at 
THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON. This I accept as a verdict in 
my favor, and above all as a good omen for tlie success ol 
vine culture. The demand foFvlnes of the best class of these 
kinds for family supply has also vastly increased, as was to 
have been expected from the education of the public taste. 
■This is not surprising to those who have learned the excel¬ 
lence and value of good grapes. 
As to the 9th I can onlv say here the subject of vine cul¬ 
ture has been of exceeding interest to me from my child¬ 
hood, and that I had long been familiar with the principle* 
and practice of the cultivation of both native and foreign 
kinds before saying one word to the public concerning 
eitlier, and when I spoke it was according to my own care¬ 
fully wrougiit out experience, the reproach of which is not 
severe to bear. My publications have been the outgrowth of 
my own personal practice, and made because I thought them 
suited to the public need at the time. I have never ad¬ 
vocated any new theor}', nor have 1 claimed the invention 
of any new system or methods of training. My labor has 
been to explain and teach to beginners those which have 
been well known and established for ages. 
I have scarcely touched upon the subjects of the three last 
heads here, but the matter is fully treated in the pamplilet. 
All of these minor imputations have been in circulation a 
long time, being thought unworthy of notice: but when tliey 
culminated in charges of stupendous fraud I could no longer 
forbear. C. W. GRANT. 
Iona, Jan. 18,1865. 
