EW-Y0K&E2L 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
TENTH BIENNIAL MEETING. 
Continued from page 319, last No. 
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. 
DISCUSSION ON GRAPES CONTINUED. 
Moody of N, Y.—My opinion is that when 
the real merits of a grape determine its value in 
market, this grape will be dropped from the 
list. At first the Delaware was rejected in the 
market, but as its quality becomes better known, 
although small, it is profitable. I think we 
should drop the name Ontario. 
Downing of N. Y.—It drops from the bunch 
before it is ripe. It is worthless as an eating 
grape. 
Saunders of D. C.—We can get much better 
grapes before we can get the Union Village. 
Downing.— There is no mistake about the 
identity of the Union Village and Ontario. 
Canpbkll of O.— I have had an impression 
that the two were distinct—that the Ontario 
might be a seedling from the Union Village. I 
have seen some evidence of it, I thought; but I 
may be mistaken, since gentlemen present are 
so positive concerning this question. The differ- 
ence I have discovered is that the vine known 
as the Ontario ripened its fruit earlier, stood 
the winter better, and has larger and coarser 
foliage; and there Is a sort of down on the upper 
surface of its leaves which distinguishes it from 
the vine called Union Village. But the fruit 
seems to be almost identical. 
Voted that the name Ontario be dropped. 
Rebecca. —HOYey of 3lass. -I have believed 
this, from the first, to be one of our finest 
grapes—so far as quality goes, one of the finest 
in this country, anil T am glad to know that it 
is improving in habit of growth and other good 
qualities. It is wining its way rapidly with us 
in the East. It is sutliciently hardy for any part 
of the North East, and is a good grower—quite 
as vigorous as the Delaware. It is to be placed 
at the head, or among the very first of our 
American grapes. 
Brocksb.vnk of N. Y.—I have propagated 
it ten years* It is as good a grower as the Dela¬ 
ware, ripening one week later. It is perfectly 
ripe now with me. Has never mildewed with 
us. It is as hardy as the Isabella. I protect 
it; aM should be, with me. except the Lincoln. 
Field of N. Y.—The last speaker's location 
is very high, and very much exposed, on the 
banks of the Hudson. 
Bergen of N. Y«—I do not protect any of my 
vines. I found the Rebecca slightly injured 
two winters ago. The fruit is good. I find it 
more liable to mildew than the Delaware; but 
lias always ripened its wood with me. 
Townsend of N. Y.— It is an excellent keep¬ 
er. I keep it until April, in paper boxes in a 
cool room. 11 keeps as well as the Diana. 
Paul of Mass.— I have ripened it in the west¬ 
ern part of Massachusetts. The vine is nearly 
as hardy as the Delaware with me. Quality of 
fruit the very finest. I have kept it all winter. 
BrochSRANK of N. Y.—It is not a shy bear¬ 
er. [Stated an example of productiveness to 
prove this assertion which the reporter failed to 
get complete.] 
Hoag of N. Y.—Vines planted on sandy loam 
are bearing fifteen to twenty pounds each. 
Field of N. Y.—It is better for higher lati¬ 
tudes. It sun-scalds with me. 
Carpenter of N. Y.—It is perfectly hardy 
with me, but a feeble grower, not so strong as 
the Delaware. But I would recommend it as an 
amateur grape. 
Field of N. Y. -It is a better grape for still good it is. 
better covered with foliage and mildews less 
than Rebecca. 
Parry of N. J.—Last week I saw and tested 
it fully ripe. Vine healthy, bunch not so com¬ 
pact as the Rebecca—most valuable white grape 
I think. I saw it at Moorestown, N. J. 
Mead of N. Y.—I cannotiipen it. I canlhe 
Rebecca. It will not ripen till ten or twelve 
days after the Rebecca with me. It is a very 
good grape indeed, ;»s to quality. For our local¬ 
ity and North-West of us it is no use to attempt 
to grow it. About Philadelphia and South it 
will be valuable. 
Price of I’a.—As to vigor of growth with us 
that is established. It iipens as early as the 
Diana. 
Saunders of D. C.—With us it is quite an 
early grape, ripening with the Deleware. 1 
have been familiar with it eight or ten years. 
I described it once as the White Isabella. Have 
been deceived in regard to it. I think it will 
ripen with the Isabella anywhere. Its flowers 
seem to be defective, kt is a strong grower— 
the third perhaps in this respect among 150 va¬ 
rieties we have. 
Downing of N. Y,—It is a hardy, vigorous 
grower. Does not ripen with me. The fruit 
does not set well. Bunch is small. 
Thomas of N. Y.—In comparing the time of 
ripening of grapes, gentlemen should give dates. 
There is such a difference in the ripening of 
grapes, and the further North you go the greater 
the difference. I hear some gentlemen compar¬ 
ing the ripening of a grape with the Isabella. 
Some grapes will ripen ten years before the Isa¬ 
bella in the North where it does notripen at all. 
Iona . (sample exhibited.)—Dr. Grant.—T his 
is the seventh year of its bearing. It is sup¬ 
posed to bo a seedling of the Diana. It first 
bore fruit in 1857. Itbegan to ripen its fruit the 
20tli of August, was better the 25th, and ripe 
and very good indeed the 1st of September. 
Thoroughly shaded it does not color so well but 
ripens well. The form of bunch is precisely 
like Grizzly Frontignau. - 
Campbell of 0.—Has it rotted any ? 
Dr. Grant.—I t has never been troubled with 
rot nor mildew. This season my I)eleware3 
were touched with mildew, but this, beside it, 
showed none. It has a hardy leaf. 1 do not 
protect the vine—it is perfectly hardy. It is 
hardier in leaf than any other grape I know of. 
At its first setting it shows the transparency of 
the foreign grape. It is extremely productive. 
I do not know of any other grape which can 
carry through to perfect ripeness such a crop of 
fruit. It has been grown from Delaware to 
Vermont. The Delaware ripens scatteringly, 
this evenly and at the same time. It is safe to 
state that it i3 as early a3 the Delaware. I do 
not lay it down in winter. Never have lost one 
for want of protection. Have had other grapes 
rot when this did not rot. It has been kept un¬ 
til spring—keeps any desirable length of time— 
until it dries to raisins. 
Hoadley of 0.—Have you made wine from 
it? 
Dr. Grant.— No, I have never made wine 
from it, but must has been made and weighed, 
and it weighs about the same as the Delaware. 
Downing of N. Y.—I have fruited it three 
years. If it does as well the next three years 
as it has the three past, shall think it one of the 
best grapes we have in all respects. 
Mead of N. Y.—I suppose I have fruited the 
Iona in greater perfection than Dr. Grant him¬ 
self. I have fruited it six years. It ripens its 
wood thoroughly and holds Its leaves well. [ A t 
this point the reporter was unable to distinguish 
a word for some minutes.] It is as free from 
disease as any grape 1 ever knew. It is a good, 
hardy, healthy vine. It is a good grape—there 
may be some difference of opinion as to bow 
soils than for sand. 
Hooker of N. Y.—H. N. Lang worthy of 
Greece, N. Y., grows it on sandy soil, and says 
it is improving with him. But l am surprised 
at the statement that it is a good grower. With 
mo it is not a good grower—not as good a grower 
as the Delaware. So far as I can procure good 
wood it is productive. 
Knox of I’a.—It is a good grower with me. 
I am uot prepared to say that its reputation for 
feeble growth is due to the fact that the earlier 
distributed vines were over propagated, but I 
am sure that the later planted grow a great deal 
better. 
Mead of N. Y.— Have you noted, Mr. Pres¬ 
ident, the fondness of this Pomologieal body 
lor talking of grapes bearing feminine names? 
This Rebecca is Mr. Hovky’S pet. And if he 
keeps her well wrapped up, and don't let her 
get too far away from home, she will do very 
well. But she should have the protection of the 
garden. She must be sheltered from the North, 
North-East and North-West winds. Her foli¬ 
age is tender. She is grown under glass and 
sold for seventy-five cents per pound—sold as a 
foreign grape, thus grown. If offered as a na- 
tivo grape it would bring but about half that 
price. It is a hardy grape in winter, but tender 
in summer. It should be placed high as an am¬ 
ateur grape. 
Carpenter of N. Y.—In New York City it 
is growing popular as a table grape under its own 
name. 
Maxatawny.— Bergen of N. Y.— l want to 
hear from Pennsylvania about this grape. 
Noble ol’ Pa.—I have seen it. It grows bet¬ 
ter in city gardens than in country vineyards. 
It is more thrifty than the Rebecca. 
IIooi'Ks of Pa. —We consider it the best white 
grape. It is later than the Rebecca, but more 
valuable with us. It is perhaps too late a grape 
for the North. 
Cam riiELL of (X lhavofruited it two years. 
Last year it did not get fully ripe—the robins 
took it before It ripened. Its bunches are rather 
loose, long, compared with the Rebecca grown 
on the same trellis. It is a stronger grower, 
JsraeUcL— Dr. Grant.— The Israella ripens 
from the surface towards the center. It ripens 
earlier than any grape I’ve ever cultivated, and 
keeps as well as any, with two or three ex¬ 
ceptions. It keeps easily until the first of March. 
The Isabella is probably its parent. The wood 
is hardy—never had any protection. It is much 
earlier—full two weeks—than the Delaware. 
It is ripe and good to eat before the Hartford 
Prolific has turned. It is the best early gr^pe. 
The bunch is six inches long and shouldered on 
one side. 
Diana .— Bateham of 0.—There is a disagree¬ 
ment with us about the quality of this grape 
and the time of ripening. I should like to hear 
it talked about. 
Knox of Pa.— I have a great regard for it—it 
is among the best grapes. The vino is a little 
tender and must be protected. Protect it, anil 
the tendency is to overbear, heme I am com¬ 
pelled to prune it severely. In a selection of 
five varieties of grapes, I would put It in. It is 
a good table grape, a good wine grape and a 
good keeper. I prune it severely in November 
to prevent overbearing. 
Arnold of C. W.—The Diana is a shy bear¬ 
er with me, although 1 protect it. Will it bear 
high cultivation ? 
K non. —Yes, I think It will. 
Field of N. Y.—It bears sparsely with me 
—does not fill its buuches well. Alongside of 
it are thirty varieties, and 1 can get more fruit 
fromoue Delaware vine than from all the Diana 
vines I have. 
Edwards of Mo.—I wish to ask Mr. Knox 
about his summer pruning of this variety. Do 
you summer prune severely ? 
Knox.—N o more than I give to other varie¬ 
ties. 
Bort of Mich.—It succeeds well in Western 
Michigan—ripens well; was ripe two weeks 
ago. 
Dr. Grant of N. Y.—Since the third year I 
cultivated it, l have not failed to get a good crop 
from it. It rots a little when other varieties rot 
badly. It becomes good to eat early, but is not 
perfectly ripe until late in the season. It is 
second only to the Delaware for wine—superior a 
to the Catawba. The fruit buds will not be i 
developed close to the base of the vine if al- t 
lowed to grow too long. 
L angworld y of N. Y. — I have a vine s 
planted over the dead body of a horse, and it i 
has not given satisfaction — run to wood and i 
borne sparsely. 
A A’eio Hybrid is exhibited by Jacob Moore 3 
of Brighton, N. Y, and introduced by H. E. 
Hooker, who says — This is a cro>> between £ 
the Black Hamburg and Diana—the result of 
patient effort in cross fertilizing, using the n3- i 
tive grape as the mother plant, and the foreign 
for impregnation. Although a native it really I 
looks more foreign. The experiments of Mr. ‘ 
Moorb prove that the foreign and the native 
grapes can be crossed. There is no doubt as to '. 
the fact that this is a h> brid. * 
Moore.— The grape, when ripe, is dark crim- > 
son. The sample is not perfectly ripe. I fruit- j 
ed out of doors. I think it perfectly hardy. It 
wa3 wound about with straw last winter and 1 
tied to a trellis. 
Mead. — I consider this a very promising j 
grape indeed. It is unmistakably a hybrid. 1 
The Diana is not only an excellent grape, but 
the mother of more good grapes than any other i 
I know of. 1 
Rogers’ Hybrid. — Cami’bhll of Ohio.— I 
know there is a difference of opinion as to 
whether these grapes are hybrids or not. I 
believe them to be hybrids; but I believe the 
female parent so poor 3 grape aa to render them 
nearly valueless. I regard No. 3 the best of 
them, and No. 4, next best. 
Thomas of N. Y.— No. 9 is a very beautiful 
grape of the Catawba type, and has a Catawba 
flavor. It is earlier, larger and handsomer than 
the Diana. 
Campbell.— I have fruited No. 9, but do uot 
regard it as highly as No. 3. 
BeAgen of N. Y.—I have fruited 17 of these 
hybrids. So far as flavor is concerned, have 
found but one that T can call very good—No, 5. 
It has a small bunch, berries medium size, flavor 
very good. I found No. 44 the earliest. It was 
ripe before I left home. I have marked as 
promising Nos. 43. 41, 33, 13—which may mean 
15—4, 3. Marked 5 as best flavored. All have 
borne. Have been struck with the prolific 
character of some of them. No. 13—as I have 
it—4, 43, 41 and 33 may be named as prolific, I 
have a very good opinion of these from one 
year’s fruiting. 
Campbell of Ohio.—My Rogers’ Hybrids 
were left unprotected last winter. No. 1,15 and 
19 were somewhat injured. No. 3 is the hardi¬ 
est of them. No. 4 next, the latter being injured 
about as much as the Concord. The others are 
tolerably hardy. The thermometer was 15 to 
16 deg. below *ero, succeeding quite warm 
weather. I have ripened No. I, which is rather 
insipid and flavorless—large anil handsome, how¬ 
ever. It is not early—ripens about with Isabella. 
No. 15 seems to suit the palates of many who test 
it, much better than it suits mine. I do not like it 
as well as No. 4, which is the most prolific of 
them all, and a better grape than the Concord. 
Bergen.— With me, No 44 is earlier than the 
Delaware. No. 9 was partially winter-killed. 
Several of these hybrids are decided by visitors 
to my place to be superior to the Concord and 
Hartford Prolific. 
Barry of N. Y.—I have seen no evidence 
that these grapes are hybrids, though whether 
they are or not docs not affect their value. My 
own opinion is that Mr. Rogers has made 
some mistake. 1 do not believe he has intended 
to deceive anybody as to their origin. 
CAMPBELL of Ohio. — I have not any 
doubts that many of these grapes are hybrids, 
and some of them exhibit the characteristics of 
the Connecticut Mammoth, the Fox grape on 
which this cross was made. Others have the ap¬ 
pearance of the foreign grape; and I regard this 
fact good evidence that these are hybrids. No. 4 
is so very like Black Hamburg in appearance, that 
and found it to be an Isabella, with bunches 
double the usual 6ize. I think there is no ques¬ 
tion but these samples are Isabellas. 
To Eaton. — Mr. Knox of Pa., is asked to 
say something about this grape:—I have hardly 
made up my mind as to the To Kalon yet. I 
would uot recommend it for general culture. 
Mkeceron of Pa.—Rotted badly the present 
year with us, I do not consider it valuable. 
Mead of N. Y .—It is liable to so many casu¬ 
alties it should be passed. 
Langworthy of N. Y.—It perished in my 
vineyard last winter. 
'amfstif #r0«0m 
HOUSEHOLD CONVENIENCES. 
I have a slate hanging in my pantry with pencil 
attached, upon w hich we are accustomed to write 
down such domestic concerns as need attention. 
For instance, upon one ride of it i 8 now written* 
^nd tor corn-meal, starch and lamjMjhimuey.” 
“Examine butter firkin.” « Engage onions of 
Mr. Allen to-morrow.” These are for my own 
Harkens of Pa.—I have nothing to say in its Mention, while upon the other side the girl is 
ivor. It is not adapted to the valley of the reminded to “Brown coffee; gather beans for 
usquehanna. drying.” “ Scald the bread box.” “Washcel- 
Dr. Grant of N. Y.—I have fruited it fifteen lar shelves.” Whenever I find any little item 
ears. Compared with the Isabella and Ca- that needs attention either from myself or the 
iwba it is valuable for cultivation. But with girl, I trust it to my slate, and find it much safer 
:s present disposition to rot it Bhould be re- than to run the risk of remembering it at the 
;eted. right time. You often hear housekeepers ex- 
Hoopes of Pa.—We get only one perfect crop claiming, “There, I forgot entirely to send for 
rom it in ten years. such a thing—or do such a thing, and now it is 
Lydia.— Campbell of Ohio.—It is a good t0 ° ^ ate - Try the slate. 
rowing vine; when young it mildews. The Another. —Beside the slate hangs a small 
ierry is large, bunches medium, quality like the blank book, also furnished with a pencil, in which 
lebecca — fine flavor. It ripens at the same I keep an account of my household expenses, 
ime as the Rebecca, bears better, is a stronger The pages are variously beaded, “Flour,” “Su- 
;rower, and has better foliage. Color of fruit gar,” “ Meat/' “ Butter,” &c., with an extra 
ight green—amber in the sun — berry is larger page for sundries. At the right hand corner of 
ban Rebecca, and I like it about as well. the page, above, I put the amount which I have 
Mead of N. Y.—I have grown this fruit decided by careful estimate is all we can afford 
Che vine is a good grower and fruit good—not to spend monthly, or yearly, (I have tried both 
irst rate. For vineyard culture it takes a posi- ways) for the article designated. Then I enter 
,ion above the Rebecca. But it is not sufli- every purchase made under its appropriate head, 
iiently good in all respects to warrant its giving date, quantity, price and amount. At 
•ecommendation for general cultivation. In the close of each month it is easy to see whether 
ocalities it must be regarded good. we live within our income or not. You far- 
Allen’s Hybrid.- Mead of N. Y.-It is a good mer ’ 3 wives may think this neither possible nor 
»rape. Have been successful in growing it. It f° r ^ut I assure you if you would 
s tender, sweet, and has a flavor that reminds once t3 T i- y° u would find a satisfaction from it 
me of some of our foreign grapes. It is not to would abundantly repay the trouble. I 
tie recommended for general vineyard culture, recommend i; most earnestly, however, for the 
It mildews when exposed—becomes so covered w i yes of salaried men, and mechanics whose in- 
with it that toward the last of the season it come is fixed, and who purchase the staples for 
loses its leaves. It is a handsome and good their family consumption. e. h. m. 
I could not tell them apart without tasting of t j ve an< j ^ ae flavor. 
favor. It is not adapted to the valley of the 1 
Susquehanna. c ’ 
Dr. Grant of N. Y.—I have fruited it fifteen 1 
years. Compared with the Isabella and Ca- t 
tawba it is valuable for cultivation. But with § 
its present disposition to rot it Bhould be re- t 
jected. 1 
Hoopes of Pa.—We get only one perfect crop ( 
from it in ten years. 6 
Lydia.— Campbell of Ohio.—It is a good 1 
growing vine; when young it mildew?. The 
berry is large, bunches medium, quality like the 1 
Rebecca —fine flavor. It ripens at the same 1 
time as the Rebecca, bears better, is a stronger 
grower, and has better foliage. Color of fruit | 
light green—amber in the sun — berry is larger i 
than Rebecca, and I like it about as well. I 
Mead of N. Y.—I have grown this fruit i 
The vine is a good grower and fruit good—not I 
first rate. For vineyard culture it takes a posi¬ 
tion above the Rebecca. But it is not sufli- < 
ciently good in all respects to warrant its j 
recommendation for general cultivation. In 
localities it mu9t be regarded good. 
Allen’s Hybrid.—M ead of N. Y.—It is a good 
grape. Have been successful in growing it. It 
is tender, sweet, and has a flavor that reminds 
me of some of our foreign grapes. It is not to 
be recommended for general vineyard culture. 
It mildews when exposed—becomes so covered 
with it that toward the last of the season it 
loses its leaves. It is a handsome and good 
grape, and should be on the Amateur’s list. I 
would place it pretty high for an amateur’s 
grape, and excellent for the vineyard in places. 
Hovey of Mass_This grape has been before 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society ten 
years. It is a true hybrid. I have grown it in¬ 
doors equal to the Golden Chasselas. Outrof- 
doors, at firs Lit was rather inferior, but later 
years it is ^kiting better and better. Vines 
of it on Mr. Allen';* grounds have no more 
mildew on them than the Hartford Prolific. It 
is a far better grape than we hail an idea it was i 
at first. It will do well planted anywhere that ' 
that the Delaware and Rebecca will do well, 
and it uaildews no more than these grapes. I 
think you may set it down as one of the best 
grapes. “With us it has more than met our 
expectations. 
B. B. Prosser of Yates Co., N. Y.—I have 
fruited it. It stood exposed last winter and 
came Bafely through. It has showed some in¬ 
clination to mildew, but the leaf is as hardy as 
that of the Rebecca, and it is a better grape. 
Downing of N. Y-—It is the earliest grape I 
have, and keeps welL 
Terrill of N. Y.—I have one vine fruiting. 
It bore twenty bunches. I have not a perfect 
bunch on the vine. 
Dr. Grant of N. Y. — I have fruited this 
grape five years. It is as vigorous a grower as 
the Isabella—remarkably free from mildew. 
With me it grows better and better. It is a fine 
1 amber colored grape. Much better than the 
Rebecca with me. 
Hoag of N. Y.—With me it as vigorous a 
' grower as the Isabella. 
f Mead of N. Y.—I think so much of it that I 
1 do not hesitate to recommend it where it can 
■ be sheltered. 
5 J files Grape .—Information is asked for eon- 
1 eeruing this grape. Downing of N. Y. says:— 
1 It is a good grower, early, hardy, very produc- 
them. 
Moore of N. Y. — There is no doubt what¬ 
ever that they are hybrids. The No. 4 is like a 
foreign grape. The leaf resembled it also. 
Hoag of N. Y.—I have several of these hy¬ 
brids. No. 33, exposed, killed to the ground. 
All were left uncovered. The rest stood the 
winter well. No. 1 mildews this year. Its 
fruit is large and fine. No. 4 surpasses all oth¬ 
ers in duster. Not one of them ripened with 
me last year. There is not anythiug very valu¬ 
able about any of them. 
Tarsons of N. Y.—I move, Mr. President, 
that the Fruit Committee be instructed to report 
at the next meeting such of these hybrids as 
really have merit, with names to be adopted by 
the Society with the consent of Mr. Rogers. 
This motion was adopted. 
Isabella presented by P. C. Reynolds. 
Bateham of Ohio.—This sample resembles 
that knowu as the Aiken in Ohio. 
Reynolds of N. Y.— I know nothing about 
the history of this grape. I fotmd it on a place 
to which I removed last fall — soil saudy —the 
grape trained to a trellis. 
Hoadley of Ohio.—We have this grape with 
us. It is not the Isabella of Southern Ohio, but 
we have always called it Isabella. It is a better 
grape. I have never heard it called Aiken. 
Pres. Warder. — It is a frequent circum¬ 
stance that the Isabella Is found in this form in 
localities. Taking cuttings from such vines and 
planting, the result is a most unmistakable Isa¬ 
bella. 
Bateham of Ohio.— Wo have concluded in 
Ohio that it is the result of culture and local 
i influences instead of being a distinct variety. 
Hooker of N. Y.—At our Fruit Growers’ 
Society’s meeting last year, Isabellas were ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. Beach of this city, of such pon¬ 
derous size Amt it was doubted if they were 
Isabellas. I went and examined the vine, 
Bergen of N. Y.—I have fruited it. Of over 
fifty native grapes l have, this is the earliest. 
Hoopes of Pa.—I introduced it eight er ten 
years since. It ripens w ith us the last of Au¬ 
gust—is the earliest grape with us. It is a 
strong grower, hardy and productive, pleasant 
flavor. 
Cuyahoga.— Campbell of Ohio.—It is too 
late for ripening in my latitude. It requires a 
season fully as long as the Catawba. It mildews 
when young. It is hardier than I expected. It 
and Colman’s White are identical. 
Ties. Warder.—T hey are identical. 
H arkens of Pa.—It has not proved satisfac¬ 
tory with me. It does not ripen—is a Fox grape. 
Pres. Warder.— There is a Fox grape called 
the Col man's White, which is distinct from the 
Cuyahoga. 
Mead of N. Y.—The Cuyahoga ripens too 
late. I have a vine called Colman’s White and 
another called Cuyahoga, but they are not 
alike. The vines are quite distinct. It may be 
that the vine sent me as Colmau’s White is not 
true. 
JvCs Maderia .—President Warder.— It is a 
hardy, productive grape, aud makes a delight¬ 
ful red wine. It is growing in favor as a wine 
grape. [Continued next week. 
lUtes an« Queries. 
Barf.erky Hedges. — ;A Winters.) There is no 
doubt but hedges may be made of the Barberry. We 
do uot know where seed can be obtained. 
Graphs Received— We acknowledge the receipt of 
very flue specimen bunches of Muscat Hamburg, 
Deacon s Superb aud Black Hamburg grapes from 
Messrs Bronson, Graves & Sblover of the Wash¬ 
ington St. Nurseries, Geneva, N. Y. Also, two boxes 
of well grown Concords from E. B. Pottle, Naples, 
N. Y. 
CORN HUSK PILLOWS. 
Eds. Rural New Yorker:— Allow me 
through the columns of your far-reaching paper 
to suggest a light, healthy, army or hospital pil¬ 
low. A cheap and accessible substitute for 
feathers, cotton or “ hair ” may be found in the 
soft inner coat or lining of the corn husk, divid¬ 
ed into shreds. Several years ago, while “ trac¬ 
ing” com for my husband, I tried the experi¬ 
ment for lounge-pillows, cushions, etc., and 
found them so nice in sickness I made several 
bed-pillows the next year, which have since 
been in constant use, though I still keep some 
feathers in my bouse for the accommodation of 
fogies, September and October are the months 
to select and prepare these husks. Every yard 
in city or country, nearly, has its plat of corn 
and every loyal house its nimble fingers ready to 
work for the sick at the war, or for the return¬ 
ed invalid. When field-corn is being hnsked, is 
a good time to set aside in clean baskets the most 
| desirable, soft, silky husks, until the convenient 
time to prepare them: a small-pointed knife, a 
fork or scissors may be the instrument used. I 
I shred them fins for pillows, coarser for beds. 
Any form to suit circumstances may be chosen 
for pillows. I make them nearly square, say 
one-half yard, weighing only 2J or 3 lbs., or 
they may be made round, like an old-fashioned 
portmanteau occupying less space. They may 
be opened and dusted or even washed, and ticks 
renovated eaeh year if desired. 
Mine were all made in little interstices of time, 
but boys and girls may get together for this 
purpose and speedily furnish our army as well 
as their homes with this luxury and say good 
bye to spinal complaints, nervous head-aches, 
feather-dealers, upholsterers in hair, aud South¬ 
ern cotton. The ladies of the North may thus sit 
as proudly among the corn, as the queens of the 
East among their treasures.— Mrs. T., Mexico, 
y. I'., Sept., 1864. 
Preserving Black Currants. — Dear 
Rural :—I noticed an inquiry in one of your 
late numbers, about preserving black currants. 
Here is my method: Stew the currants and run 
them through a colauder; add sugar enough to 
make them ready for the table, and then can 
them. They are. excellent.— Lulik, Harbor 
Creek, Erie Co., Fa. 
A Hint to Young Housekeepers.—As 
you empty your fruit jars through the winter, 
fill them with stewed apple, putting up in the 
same manner as other fruits. You will find 
yourself next spring supplied with an excellent 
article of green apple sauce.—L. 
- 
To Use Sweet Apples.— Take good sweet 
apples, pare and quarter, add a little water and 
stew till tender. When cold, serve with cream 
and you will have a dish which is not only 
economical (requiring no sugar) but delicious.— 
Housekeeper. 
DOMESTIC INQUIRIES. 
Mildew Stains.—W ill some contributor to this col¬ 
umn of the Rural give directions for removing mildew 
stains from white cotton cloth? and oblige— Helen E. 
L., Livingston (b , Hich. 
Pickled Potatoes.— We have seen mentioned with 
other things for the soldiers, the pickled potato; and 
as we are unacquainted with the manner of preparing 
them will you please inform ns through your columns ? 
—Addie, 
Coloring Woolens.-Osh you or any of your nu¬ 
merous subscribers give me instructions for [prevent¬ 
ing black woolen yarn or cloth from fading or cracking, 
also give recipes for coloring woolen (fast colors) the 
following colors, viz., black, blue, red, green?—Houss- 
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