MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
315 
HORTICULTURE AT THE . FAIR. 
In the Horticultural display at Floral 
Hall, as in everything else, the late State 
Fair in this city is acknowledged to have 
been the finest yet held in the country.— 
This is very creditable to “our Eden of the 
Genesee,” though from the adaptation of 
our soil and climate, to the production of 
fruits and flowers, and the skill and energy 
of our Horticulturists, both amateur and 
professional, it could not well be otherwise. 
There were many eminent contributors 
from abroad, and from other parts of the 
State—men who could aid in making a 
beautiful show, and also appreciate what 
our citizens were doing. Among them, 
were Prince, of Long Island; Chas. Down¬ 
ing, of Newburgh; Dr. Warder, of Cincin¬ 
nati; Thomas and Smith, of Macedon; 
Hodge, of Buffalo; Allen, of Black Rock; 
Fahenstock, of Syracuse, and Pardee, of 
Palmyra. From the latter, we have receiv¬ 
ed some notes on the show of Grapes, Mel¬ 
ons, &c., Mr. P. being one of the Commit¬ 
tee in this department. 
A Pomological discussion was held at 
the City Hall, on Wednesday and Thurs 
day evenings of the Fair. It was well at 
tended and full of interest. We give a c^n 
densed account of a portion of the proceed 
ings below, and shall next week give the 
remainder. 
meg and green-fleshed Persian. The Mi- 
norica, Skillmans, Netted and Sweet Melon 
of Ispahan, and various other kinds were 
exhibited, yet almost all the specimens 
afforded the most abundant evidence to the 
Committee, that they were not pure. It is 
so very difficult to raise two varieties of 
melons even in the same neighborhood, and 
not hybridize the seed and render them al¬ 
most worthless. 
I believe it is universally conceded that 
the exhibition of other fine fruits, such as 
Peaches, Pears and Apples, was never 
equalled in our State. Rochester certainly 
has done herself great credit in this exhibi¬ 
tion, especially in fruits and flowers, among 
which our friends, Ellwanger & Barry, 
ranked, as usual, number one. r. g. p. 
Palmyra, N. Y., 1851. 
DISCUSSION ON FRUITS. 
GRAPES, MELONS, &C-, AT THE FAIR. 
1 i 
One department of the Horticultural Exhi 
bition came more particularly under my ob 
servation, and of that I offer the followin 
brief notes for the Rural. 
At no previous Fair, have I noticed so 
fine specimens of Foreign Grapes grown in 
Vineries, as at the present one. I refer to 
those which took the first and second pre¬ 
miums, which .vere awarded to Messrs, 
Bissell & Hooker of Rochester, and W, 
H. L. Suydam of Geneva. The Grapes 
were not only ripe, very large, and of lus¬ 
cious flavor, but some of the bunches exhib¬ 
ited weighed two pounds each. 
On a careful examination of the Black 
Hamburgh, Victoria, Black Prince, Black 
St. Peters, Zinfindal, Red and Golden Chas- 
selas and various other kinds, the Commit 
tee were of the opinion that the Black Ham 
burgh was entitled to the preference. I have 
some doubt of this, and think, had the Vic¬ 
toria been equally ripe, it would have had 
several voices in its favor. It is a fact 
worthy of notice in this exhibition of exotic 
Grapes that the fine specimens exhibited 
by Mr. Suydam were planted, and the vin¬ 
ery erected but sixteen months ago—and 
that this vinery (a cold one) 30 by 14 feet, 
; and 12 feet high, was erected at an expense 
of $70, only. It was also the first acquaint¬ 
ance of Mr. S. with their culture, and his 
vinery only received his attention in the in¬ 
tervals of business in which he is actively 
engaged. 
o o 
In Native Grapes, the best assortment 
was presented by Dr. W. T. Underhill, of 
Croton Point. I never saw finer grown 
specimens of Isabella, Catawba, Alexander 
and Clinton Grapes than the Doctor exhib¬ 
ited, and yet smaller specimens grown near 
Rochester were of decidedly finer flavor.— 
We were much gratified with the oppor¬ 
tunity of testing some fine specimens of the 
Catawba, Isabella, and Ilerbemont Grapes, 
from the celebrated vineyards of Cincinnati. 
The grapes were of very delicious flavor, 
and yet I am quite sure I pick them every 
year from a vine in my garden, in a pro¬ 
tected situation, at least fully equal in flavor; 
while the grapes on the top of the same 
vines which are trained higher than the roof 
of the house, where the chilling winds of 
the north can reach them, invariably par¬ 
take of the second rate flavor observable in 
Dr. Underhill’s specimens. 
The exhibition of melons was remarkably 
fine, when we consider the unfavorableness 
of this cold season. Your successful neigh¬ 
bor, John Donnellan, bore off the palm 
He was awarded the first premium for 
the hugest collection, and also the best 
specimen —the White Imperial;and anoth- 
ei citizen ol Rochester, (I have forgotten 
the name,) was awarded the second, on the 
Black Spanish, of remarkable size and ex¬ 
cellence. There was a large number of va¬ 
rieties of the muskmelon exhibited, and 
yet none of them proved equal to the nut¬ 
We need not occupy space to report the 
particulars of the organization of the Pomo 
logical meeting referred to in another arti 
cle, but come at once to the gist of the dis 
cussion. The merits of several varieties of 
apples were under consideration. First— 
THE HAWLEY APPLE. 
Mr. L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, said lie 
did not fully understand the object of these 
meetings, but it appeared to him that the 
end should be to determine something for 
the government of fruit growers, in relation 
to soils as well as the species of fruits.— 
His reading on the subject had been con¬ 
siderable, but he had been unable to form 
definite conclusions as to soils, localities, &c., 
best for particular fruits. If in the discus¬ 
sion of these things, each would state his 
own experience as to soils, &c., it would bet¬ 
ter satisfy people who are engaged in cul¬ 
tivating fruit, and be more profitable. 
J. W. Bissell moved that the Hawley 
Apple is a first-class apple, but should be 
grown on heavy soil. 
Mr. Barry thought there had not been 
sufficient evidence on this point. He had 
seen very fine crops of it on light soil._ 
Two trees, on different soil, might present 
different results. We need a variety and a 
good many facts before settling upon the 
soil requisite for its growth. 
Mr. Frost, of Chemung, said the apple 
had been grown near Binghamton, upon 
an alluvial or light gravelly soil, and it was 
highly esteemed there. The crops were 
frequently heavy. 
The resolution of Mr. Bissell was amend¬ 
ed on motion of Mr. Thomas, so as to read 
that “ the Hawley apple belongs in the first- 
class, but we have not sufficient experience 
on the subject to state what kind of soil is 
the best suited to it.” Agreed to. 
THE NORTHERN SPY. 
Mr. Hodge, of Buffalo, said that he was 
sorry to hear it remarked that the Northern 
Spy apple would prove a failure. In the 
vicinity of Buffalo, upon a rich soil, and 
with good cultivation, it had succeeded ad- I 
mirably. There were trees there 15 years 
old, that were bearing well. 
Mr. L. F. Allen said he had at one time 
gone into the raising of the Northern Spy 
pretty extensively. He put the trees into 
a stiff soil, part clay and gravel. They dis 
appointed him in not bearing early. The 
other day, however, he was surprised to see 
the fine growth the Spy had already at 
tained, in comparison with other fruit. He 
intended to go into the cultivation of them 
pretty largely. The tree is apt to get a 
bushy head. Last spring he thinned them 
nd found great benefit from it. The 
trees that bear are spreading out, and will 
ave as good a head as the Russet. If peo¬ 
ple would cultivate their orchards, as well 
as they do their potatoes, they would find 
the Northern Spy one of the best apples 
grown. They are excellent market apples, 
and every way desirable. It was his pre¬ 
sent intention to devote three-quarters of 
his space to this fruit. 
Mr. Langworthy thought there was a 
possibility of our being deceived yet as to 
the Northern Spy. The experience here 
| had been with young trees. They had been 
introduced here only within a few years, 
but in Bloomfield, he had seen some quite 
inferior fruit of this kind. They had no 
distinctive flavor, and their chief excellence 
was their fair size, freedom from blotch and 
warts, and their long-keeping. 
Mr. Allen asked if the orchards in Bloom¬ 
field were well taken care of. 
Mr. Bissell replied that the trees were 
old, and overgrown with suckers. The rea¬ 
son why the fruit did not succeed was very 
annarent. T!u>nnlv wnnflpr was tlmt 
apparent. The only wonder was that there 
should be any fruit on them at all. In 
Mendon there were trees some 15 years old, 
that bear uniformly well. 
Mr. Barry sustained Mr. Bissell’s state¬ 
ments. As to the remark that the apple 
had no distinctive flavor, he differed with 
Mr. L. It could readily be recognized 
among others. The flavor and perfume he 
thought decidedly distinctive. 
Mr. Hooker said the test of an apple 
should be applied in its season. He tho’t 
there was no apple that suited more gene¬ 
rally in its season. 
Mr. Barry concurred in the last remark 
The Spy should be eaten when all other 
apples had passed out of season. He had 
seen them in high condition on the 4th of 
July. ‘ 
Mr. Smith of Macedon, thought that it 
would suffer in comparison with the Bald¬ 
win apple. 
Mr. Allen regarded it as an objection that 
the Spy was tardy in bearing. He consid¬ 
ered it a fruit of very high flavor, and re¬ 
lated an incident to show that such was the 
case. The perfume of the apple was very 
pungent, a single apple sometimes perfum¬ 
ing a large room with a delightful scent.— 
He moved, as the sense of the meeting, that 
the Northern Spy be regarded a fruit of 
the first quality, of excellent flavor and of 
high good keeping qualities, and that it be 
recommended for general cultivation. 
Mr. Langworthy said the perfume of the 
Spy was wholly in the skin and had noth¬ 
ing to do with the flavor of the apple. The 
motion was agreed to without dissent. 
THE WAGONER APPLE. 
Mr. Barry said this apple had obtained a 
high reputation throughout the country, and 
orchardists and nurserymen had given their 
attention to its cultivation. He had been to 
Penn Yan to see the old tree, to ascertain 
its qualities, and he had found some fine 
specimens. As compared with the Spy, 
Swar or Spitzenberg, he regarded it as in¬ 
ferior in some respects. It keeps until about 
the first of May. The tree bears well. 
Mr. Thomas had seen some fine speci¬ 
mens, but he wished further information in 
regard to it befose deciding as to its real 
qualities. 
Mr. Frost made some remarks in favor of 
the Wagener apple. He had seen it grow¬ 
ing finely, yielding uniformly good fruit.— 
It was a long keeper. He had tested it in 
comparison with Spy at the meeting in Al¬ 
bany, and had there given the preference 
to the' Wagoner, in respect to flavor and 
fineness of grain. The time would come, 
he believed, when it would be regarded 
with general favor. 
Mr Bissell thought the test not a fair one 
because the Spy was not matured to the 
same extent as the Wagoner. 
Mr. Langworthy inquired how long the 
Wagener retained its qualities after it 
came to its full maturity ? This he regard¬ 
ed as a question of some importance. 
Mr. Frost said the committee of the an¬ 
nual meeting had put it down as fit for use 
from January to May. It keeps its flavor a 
long time. 
Mr. Allen gave a history of the introduc¬ 
tion of this apple. The Committee on Fruits 
had at one time given it the first premium, 
and he believed now that that decision was 
correct. He would not perhaps call it a 
first rate apple, but as a good apple, of high 
qual'ty in its season. The knowledge of it 
was not sufficient yet to admit of a more 
dicided opinion. 
Mr. Smith, of Syracuse, inquired why the 
fruit was not fit to be recommended for cul¬ 
tivation, if it was acknowledged to be a first 
rate one in its season, and a good bearer ? 
Mr. Allen explained. Specimens of the 
apple had been exhibited possessing first 
rate qualities, but we cannot decide that it 
would produce as well everywhere. The 
Seek-no-further was an instance to show 
that fruit does excel in all kinds of soil. 
Mr. Barry remarked that it was quite im¬ 
portant, in all discussions of this kind, to 
observe caution in coming to decisions in 
regard to fruit Many persons had been 
misled by the reports of Societies, and found 
themselves greatly disappointed. The great 
fault prevalent was the disposition to take 
up new specimens upon slight experience. 
Mr. Bateliam, of Ohio, requested, in be¬ 
half of cultivators in his State, that great 
caution should be observed by pomological 
conventions and societies in this State, in 
recommending fruit for general cultivation. 
It was a difficult matter to decide on the 
question of soils, climate, &c. in different 
localities. Fruit growing well in one place 
is worthless in others. Such was striking¬ 
ly the case in Ohio. No general rules are 
applicable to the cultivation of fruit in that 
State, 
Mr. J. J. Thomas moved to amend the 
proposition of Mr. Allen, by declaring the 
Wagener to be a good apple, a tine bearer, 
and worthy of extensive trial. This was 
agreed to. 
Horticultural Curiosity. —Mr. Os¬ 
good, of Chelsea, has left at the Boston 
Traveller office a great curiosity of the fruit 
kingdom. It is an admixture of an apple 
and pear, which grew on a pear tree, the 
branches of which mingled with those of 
an apple tree. The fruit has partially taken 
the color of the apple which grows upon 
the tree. It has the taste of the apple but 
retains the shape of the pear. The apple 
which grows upon the tree is of a deep red. 
Exhibition of Dahlias— Arcade Hall in this 
city oiijTuesday last, was the scene of the richest 
display of magnificent Dahlias, which ever met 
our eye. Co. J. Ryan & C., Elwanger & Barry, 
and Mr. Edward Webster brought out speci¬ 
mens of their choicest varieties; and their large 
number, and unrivalled beauty, presented a show 
worthy of a more extended notice than we can 
give on publication day. The display by Ryan <& 
Co., embraced over a hundred varieties." 
PATENT SASH CATCH 
The accompanying engraving 
represents an improvement in 
catches for window sashes, for 
which a patent was granted July, 
1851, to the inventor, Mr. Wash¬ 
burn Race, of Seneca Falls, N. 
Y. The nature of this invention 
consists in constructing and ar¬ 
ranging the catches which hold 
up the upper sash of a window in 
such a manner that they can be 
operated to release the upper 
sash and allow it to open, or to 
secure it in any desired position, 
either open or closed, by means 
of the lower sash, without apply¬ 
ing the hands to the upper sash 
or its catches. The accompany¬ 
ing engraving embraces two fig¬ 
ures: figure 1 is an elevation of 
a window, with both sashes clos¬ 
ed, as seen from the inner side; 
figure 2 is a vertical section of 
the same. A is the upper and 
B the lower sash; the latter is 
fitted with a catch, d, of any ap¬ 
proved construction. The upper 
sash is fitted with two catches, e, 
e, the shorter arms of which are 
borne against the center slats, g, 
of the window frame, by the 
weight of their longer arms, and 
engage in suitable notches, i 
The longer arms of these 
catches depend below their piv¬ 
ots, and their position with res- ) 
pect to the lower sash of the win¬ 
dow, is such that when the said 
sash is pushed upwards, its top 
bar will strike the longer arms of the catches 
of the upper sash, raising them and disen¬ 
gaging their shorter arms from their notches 
in the centre slats. If the lower sash is 
then slowly let down, the upper sash [be¬ 
ing released by the withdrawal of its catches 
from their respective notches] will descend 
with it. If the descent of the upper sash 
is to be stopped, the lower sash is moved 
suddenly downwards, by which means its 
top bar is drawn away from the longer 
arms of the upper sash catches, which, be¬ 
ing no longer supported, will descend by 
their own gravity and force their respective 
shorter arms into the next succeeding notch¬ 
es of the centre slats, thus stopping the fur¬ 
ther descent of the upper sash. When the 
upper sash is to be raised, the lower one is 
pushed upwards; in its upward movement 
its top bar strikes the upper sash catches 
and detaches them from the notches; if the 
lower sash be now moved further, it will 
carry the upper sash with it to its upper¬ 
most position. The lower sash is then 
moved suddenly downwards, by which 
means, as before stated, the upper sash 
catches are allowed to engage with their 
respective notches in the centre slats, thus 
securing the sash in its uppermost position. 
It will thus be perceived, how that by oper¬ 
ating the lower sash, which is within easy 
reach, the upper sash is readily opened and 
closed without the operators having recourse 
to a chair to reach the upper catches. The 
employment of two catches prevents the 
upper sash from sagging, //are steps for 
the hook, n, of the lower catch, d, to re¬ 
tain it in the designated positions. The 
claim is “for the arrangement of the catch¬ 
es and window sashes for the purpose de¬ 
scribed.” 
More information may be obtained of the 
patentee by letter addressed to him. 
Mr Race is a veteran inventor, and his 
improvements are all of the useful class. 
The firm of Washburn Race & Co., of Sen¬ 
eca halls, have been very prosperous as 
stove manufactures,—Mr. Race being the 
inventor ol the “ Self-regulating Stove.” 
The village of Seneca Falls is a thriving 
place—we know it well, and know also that 
its prosperity can be traced to the skill of 
its mechanics, and the genius of such men 
as Mr. Race.— Sci. Am. 
NEW IMPROVEMENT. 
LIST OF PATENT CLAIMS 
ISSUED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 
For the week ending Sept. 1(3, 1851. 
NEW WAY OF FASTENING SCYTHES. 
Mr. W. C. Barker, Barkersvifle, Sar¬ 
atoga county, N. Y., has taken meas¬ 
ures to secure a patent for an improved 
scythe fastening. A flat piece of metal is 
fitted to aflat surface cut on one side of the 
snath, and is provided with a collar on one 
side fitting on the end of the snath, and it 
has a loop on the other side to receive the 
shank of the scythe, which is secured there¬ 
in by a wedge or key; the whole of the 
scythe, shank, and heel, has a bearing against 
the flat plate to which the key confines it. 
This fastening possesses all the simplicity of 
the old fastening, and is more secure, for 
the scythe by the arrangement will not al¬ 
ter its position, and at the same time when 
the scythe has to be taken out of the snath 
for grinding, <fec., the wedge or key alone 
has to be moved; it is the only part ever 
loosened, consequently this makes the fast¬ 
ening very simple. It is cheap and has no 
screw about it.— Sci. American. 
To S. T. Jones, of New York, N. Y, for im¬ 
provement in the manufacture of iron. Patented 
in England, July 23, 1850. 
To Ira Russell, of Dedham, Mass., for improve¬ 
ment in bedsteads. 
To Geo. Winters, of Portsmouth, Pa., for im¬ 
provement in railroad car coupling. 
^ To J. T. Treat and S. Randall, of Toluntown, 
Conn., for improvement in machines for breaking 
hemp flax and reducing the length of the fibres. 
To George Faber, of Canton, O., for gauge for 
indicating pressure of steam, &c. 
Po Smith Gardner, of New York, N. Y., for 
improvement in apparatus for draining sugar. 
To Henry Goulding, of Boston, Mass., for im¬ 
provement in stone drilling madhines. 
To E. W. Hazard, of Binghamton, N. Y., and 
C. II. Jenuer, of Rochester, N. Y., for improve¬ 
ment in machines for dressing mill stones. 
To Leopold Brandies, of New York, N. Y., for 
improvement in the process of making brown 
powder. & 
To Gardner Chilson, of Boston, Mass., for im¬ 
provement in stoves. 
Io N. F. Cone, of Kingsville, Ohio, for im- ' 
proved bench vise. 
To Arnold Jillson, of Woonsocket, R. I., for 
improvement in weavers’ temples. 
I’o Alpha Richardson, of North Enfield, N. H., 
for improvement in leather splitting machinery. ’ 
To Levi R. Rockwood, of Upton, Mass., (as¬ 
signor to Joseph L. Woodward,) for improvement 
in Fastenings for last blocks. 
To C. G. Sargent and R. Thompson, of Lowell, 
Mass., for improvement in waste pickers. 
To 51. D. Whipple, (assignor to the Essex ) 
Company) of Lowell, Mass., for improvement in 
machines for printing house paper. 
DESIGNS. 
To Ebenzer \\ eeinan, of Charlestown, Mass 
tor design for metallic grates. 
To E. P. Penniman, of Rochester, N. Y., (as¬ 
signor to Henry Ruttan, of Coburg, Canada’,) for 
design for a ventilating stove or furnace. 
IMPROVEMENT IN GRIST MILLS- 
It is computed that between three and 
four millions of barrels of water pass over 
the Falls of Niagara every minute. 
Mr. M. Milliard, of Lake Mills, Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin, has invented and taken 
measures to secure a patent for improve¬ 
ments in grist and other like mills, which 
consists in an improved method of hano-ino- 
and forming the driving attachment of the 
mill-stone, by causing the stone to be bal¬ 
anced on a pin or roller which sustains the 
stone by a cross-bar, carrying the stone at 
its central opening, whereby it is made to 
sit in a transverse groove cut in the upper 
end ot the lower shaft, the said groove be¬ 
ing bisected at right angles by a similar one 
fot the reception of the cross-bar referred 
to. _ An upper shaft has projections which 
fit into the groove carrying the balance pin, 
which serve, by a screw at the top, to de¬ 
press the stone and guage it to its proper 
grinding distance with respect to the lower 
stone. The lower shaft is capable of re¬ 
ceiving a slightly vertical motion—beino' 
supported by a spring at the bottom—the 
whole effect of which is to render the stone 
adjustable to the utmost nicety. The mode 
of hanging the stone is also claimed to be 
an improvement in respect to obviatino- 
some friction in the present modes of 
hanging. 
Avoid a low, damp site for a dwelling- 
house. 
