OCT 43 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Socutus. 
AMERICAN POMOLiOGICAL SOCIETY. 
CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST DISCUSSION IN 
PHILADELPHIA. 
GRAPES. 
The subject of grapes was taken up at the 
evening session on Thursday with a full mem¬ 
bership in attendance, and considerable inter¬ 
est was manifested. Before calling the cata¬ 
logue an animated discussion was occasioned 
by the following resolution which was offered 
by Mr. Hope:—‘‘Resolved that this society 
will not discuss the merits of any new fruits 
held under restriction upon their sale for in¬ 
dividual advantage.” It was, of course, evi¬ 
dent that the Niagara Grape was the objective 
point, and several members took occasion to 
free their minds in plain words both pro and 
con. But while a general disapproval of the 
methods of restriction employed by the Lock- 
port Company, was clearly manifested on the 
part of nearly all members, the present reso¬ 
lution was deemed too sweeping and it 
was finally tabled. The Adirondack Grape 
was first called, to which the response “drop 
it” came from all parts of the room, and it 
was marked off the list. It had been tried for 
20 years: no one buys it now. Alva was also 
stricken off. For Rogers’s 43, 'one star was 
asked for N. J.; let it stand. For Brighton, 
one star was asked for Mich., Ohio, Indiana, 
and Mass., two forN. J., N. Y. and Ga. Mr. 
Saul wanted no stars for Washington. Cham¬ 
pion was generally reported not fit to eat, but 
good to sell. It was finally passed without re¬ 
moval. Clinton elicited no response. For 
Concord two stars were asked for Ya. For 
Cottage one star was given for Mass. Creve. 
ling was dropped from the list—uncertain and 
unprofitable. Croton Mr. Lovett moved to 
strike off; Mr. Saul said it is very liable to 
mildew; it did well with Mr. Campbell, but it 
was finallyd ropped in spite of the latter’s objec¬ 
tion. Cynthiana Mr. Hope has discarded ; but 
it was left on the list. Delaware and Diana 
brought no response and both were passed. 
Duchess Mr. Campbell said is no more reli¬ 
able than the Croton with him. Mr. Hubbard 
said “We ought to hear something more from 
the Duchess.” Mr. Hope said his success had not 
been uniform; good at. times; had rotted some¬ 
what with him; of excellent quality, of course; 
many of his neighbors do well with it ELsin- 
burg, fine fruit, of very rich flavor, but 
unprofitable; passed. Elvira cracks in 
Georgia, but bears well; not good in 
Michigan. Essex passed. Eumelan passed. 
Goethe,—Rogers’s No. 1,—good in Virginia. 
Hartford Prolific passed. Herbemoutor War¬ 
ren, was also passed without response. Herb¬ 
ert— Rogers’s 44— is one of Rogers’s best, Mr, 
Williams thought, and several members 
agreed with him. One star was asked for it 
for Canada. Iona passed. Isabella reported 
as one of the standard market sorts in N. Y. 
Some one moved to strike it out, but the pro¬ 
position met with strong objection. Mr. Lyon 
said it was too old and too much valued 
by many to give it. up yet, and so the society 
decided by a large majority. Ives was 
passed. Jefferson was reported as promising 
in various States, and finally passed. South 
Carolina Seedling was stricken off. Lady is 
very promising in Virginia; does well in the 
District of Columbia. Mr. Saul says; is of rich 
color aud delicious flavor, and be regards it as 
one of our best, if not our very best early 
grape; good reports from other States. Lady 
Washington is successful in Georgia; an excel¬ 
lent grape; promises well in the District; is 
among the most promising white grapes on 
the list. Mr. Campbell says; “A vigorous 
grower, but rotted badly with me this year; I 
have scarcely a perfect bunch on my vines— 
sorry to say it.” Lindley-RogersVJ—got good 
reports from Georgia,Virginia and Ohio. Mas- 
sasoit—Rogers’s 3,—passed. Martha and Max- 
atawnoy were also passed without comment. 
Merrimac—Rogers’s 19—passed. For Moore’s 
Early two stars were asked for New Jersey 
and Ohio, and oue for Michigan and Massa¬ 
chusetts. Noah, a very vigorous grower; 
fruit rots with Mr. Hubbard this year. Nor¬ 
ton’s Virginia—good for wine in Virginia; 
vines reported scarce. Perkins was moved 
off; but Mr. Hope found it to do well in Geor¬ 
gia, and Mr. Lovett also objected to striking 
it out, aud it was finally passed. Peter Wilcv, 
a good grower, of good quality, a valuable 
grape Mr, Lovett thinks. Poeklington, Mr. 
Hope doesn’t know whether his will get ripeor 
not;Mr. Lovett has it ripe now. Chairman 
Berckmans proposes to throw it out; it has 
deteriorated with him. Mr. Campbell’s are not 
yet ripe; ten days later than Concord, he 
thinks. He has been unable to grow any like 
the fine specimen he saw in pictures, and 
he thought chose had been “rung.” In 
flavor the Poeklington is more foxy than the 
Concord. Mr. Saunders spoke well of it. 
Mr. Williams found it very subject to mildew-; 
this was its first bearing year with him. Mr. 
Saunders here inquired if there really was a 
single variety of grape that never rotted. He 
said he had once made a list of pears that he 
thought would never blight; but he had learned 
better things now. Mr. Berckmans fully 
agreed with him on the grape question. Pock- 
lington was finally passed. Prentiss, Mr. 
Lovett says, mildews badly w-ith him. Mr. 
Williams finds the same trouble. Mr. Saun¬ 
ders thought it would do very well wherever 
the Isabella would succeed. Sometimes good, 
sometimes bad, in Georgia. Mildews in Mas¬ 
sachusetts and the District of Columbia. Re¬ 
becca is worthless with Mr. Hope: “Good 
"when we get it, but growth feeble and no 
fruit;” bears well in Michigan when properly 
pruned. Mr. Saul considers it a fine amateur 
grape, and wants it to remain. Mr. Berek- 
mans said it had been discarded for 20 years in 
Georgia; but during the last two years it was 
found to do much better there. Salem should 
be starred in Virginia, Mr. Bissell says. Mr. 
Parsons asked a star for it in New York, and 
a star was also asked for Michigan. Scupper- 
nong was passed. Telegraph got one star 
for New Jersey; considered one of the 
best of the early black grapes. Union 
Village was stricken off. Walter Mr. 
Berckmans discarded twenty years ago, but 
it was now doing better in Georgia. 
Mr. Saunders said: “ It is one of those first- 
class grapes that are destroyed by mildew; 
that’s the trouble.” Mr. Campbell found it 
most unreliable and capricious. When it is 
good it is excellent ; but it is very uncertain. 
The dagger for New York was moved out by 
Mr. Hubbard. For Wilder—Rogers’s 4,—Mr. 
Hubbard thinks one star enough for N. Y., 
instead of two now accorded it. For Worden, 
two stars were wanted for N. J. Mr. Berck¬ 
mans considers it earlier and better than the 
Concord. 
This completed the Catalogue list, and 
new varieties were then called for. Miles 
Mr. Parsons reported as one of the finest 
and best new early grapes we have. Mr. Hub¬ 
bard has not succeeded well with it. Mr. Saul 
also reported unfavorably, Mr. Hubbard men¬ 
tions Vcrgennes as very promising, a good 
grower; hears well; ripens with Concord; pro. 
duetive; of good quality; better than was ex¬ 
pected; he thinks very highly of it. At this 
point Mr. Saunders asked if any of the mem¬ 
bers had observed any effects of thephyloxera. 
Mr. Campbell replied that he had given some 
atteution to the subject, aud found it had de¬ 
creased so much in his locality of late that he 
rarely saw it any more now. He added words 
of commendation for the Vergennes Grape; a 
good grower; clusters not very large; more 
valuable thau the Brighton, which with him 
winter-kill very badly. Mr, Saunders thought 
the secret of winter-killing lay in the fact that 
the summer growth of wood had not properly 
matured. Mr. Bissell spoke highly of Ver- 
genues in Virginia. Triumph was alluded to 
by Chairman Berckmans as a fine white grape, 
oue of the best in tbe South he thinks. Mr. 
Hope agrees with him ; very attractive, he 
says; of good quality, worthy of cultivation 
South. 
apples. 
At the Friday morning session of the Con¬ 
vention, the subject of apples was taken up 
and briefly discussed. This being the last 
business session, aud much necessary business 
remaining to be done before adjournment, in¬ 
cluding the reading of several reports, it was 
decided, on motion of Mr. Gibbs, that the list 
of apples be referred to the fruit committee, 
and the delegates from the different States 
who should be corresponded with. The pear 
and peach lists were virtually disposed of in 
like manner. These were not reached at all 
in the discussions, owing to lack of time. A 
few special sorts of apples were taken up 
briefly:—York Imperial was well reported by 
different States, Mr. Satterthvraite is not 
willing to speak quite so highly of it. He 
says Smith's Cider and Ridge Pippin are the 
only two Winter upples of any valuem his por¬ 
tion of Penn (Jenkinstown.) Mr. Gibbs called 
attention to three varieties grown in 
Minn., and showed fine specimens of each. 
The first was Wealthy, a chance seedling IS 
years old. He said it grew uniformly smooth 
and line; it was the only apple that survived 
the severe Winter of 1S73, and it could be 
grown on tbe 46th parallel. He next 
exhibited specimens of the new crab 
Whitney's No. 20, which he considered 
the best crab we have, good for eating 
out of the hand, fine for eider. The fruit is 
larger than auy other crab; dark red resemb¬ 
ling the Late Strawberry; flesh crisp, tender, 
sprightly, juicy and pleasing. The uext was 
a Russian sort knowu as Yellow Transparent. 
It was large and fine, aud Mr. Gibbs thought 
it would supersede the Tetofsky. Sutton 
Beauty was well reported; of good color 
and vigorous. Missouri Pippin was asked 
about without response. Morrison’s Red is 
not much grown, Of Northern Apple good 
reports were made. Downing calls it “best.” 
Daddy was enquired for by Mr. Tatnall: no 
response. Mr. Moody was called upon for 
a report in regard, to the Mann Apple. He 
spoke well of it—hardy, vigorous, a good 
keeper; of good flavor, green at first, yellow 
when ripe. Downing says: “ very good,” Mr. 
Moody agrees with him; keeps until May. 
Fanny was next called for. Mr. Myer said 
Downing regarded it with much favor; it 
comes in right after the Astrachan. Nanse- 
mond Beauty was favorably reported 
by Mr. Bissell, Mr. Caywood names Melting 
Sweet as being high-colored; one of the most 
beautiful; an enormous bearer; remains in 
good eating condition from Fall to July. He 
considers it of much value. Garden Royal 
was named without response. This concluded 
the fruit discussions, Mr. Barry then reported 
from the Committee on Revision of the Cat¬ 
alogue, and the report was accepted. The 
report of the General Fruit Committee was 
also read and adopted. After this a long and 
livelj- disscussion ensued upon the report of 
the Committee on Next Place of Meeting. 
Indianapolis, Ind., was recommended by the 
Committee, a very cordial invitation having 
been extended by the State Society there. 
Mr. Gibbs moved it be accepted. Alike in- ( 
vitation was received from Michigan, and the' 
members were divided between the two 
places. Secretary Beal would be very glad 
to have the Society go to Michigan. Dr. 
Hexamer favored Michigan; the Society had 
a standing invitation from them for years 
past. He thought they ought to go where the 
interests of fruit culture would he best pro¬ 
moted. Mr. Caywood mentioned New York. 
Dr. Hexamer thought it the worst place they 
could go to. Mr. Garfield, of Mich, wanted 
to deal fairly between the two places. Mr. 
Moody favored Mich., and spoke of the live 
horticultural society there; he advLsed Grand 
Rapids as the best point, to which Prof. Beal 
agreed as did Mr. Lyon After much discus¬ 
sion it was finally decided to meet in Michi¬ 
gan in 1S85, the place to be fixed upon by del¬ 
egates from that State. 
Th* report of the Committee on Native 
Fruits was then read by Chairman Lyon, as 
follows:—Victoria Grape from E. S. Carman, 
of River Edge, N. J ; aseedling of the late T. 
B. Miner. Fruit, bunch above medium, 
moderately compact, with large shoulders, 
sometimes double or even treble-shouldered. 
B er ry medium to large, yellowish green, 
rather slight whitish bloom, rather thick 
skin, considerable pulp, sweet, sprightly, 
vinous, considerably foxy, not fully ripe. 
Peabody, shown by Mr. Ricketts, of N. Y.; 
bunch medium, long, slender, slightly 
shouldered, berry medium or below, oval 
form predominating, black with blue bloom, 
skin very thick, very- slight pulp, juicy, very 
fruity, highly vinous, remains of berry on 
peduncle red; fully ripe now. Francis B. 
Hayes, grape exhibited by John B. Moore, 
Mass,; hunch medium, short, compact, 
slightly shouldered, berry medium or below, 
round, yellowish amber, slight whitish bloom; 
flesh slightly pulpy, juicy, very sweet when 
fully ripe; specimens not perfectly ripe. 
Black Delaware shown by A. J. Caywood; a 
cross between Delaware and Concord; bunch 
above medium, shouldered, compact, berry 
of medium size, round, black with blue bloom, 
moderately juicy, pulpy, skin thick; high, 
vinous flavor. It gives no indications of 
Delaware parentage, uor yet of Concord as 
regards flavor. Fanning Peach shown by J. 
H. Ricketts; size hardly medium, globular, 
light red, striped and splashed with brownish 
red on 'yellowish-white ground; flesh greenish 
white, melting, juicy, vinous, sprightly, very 
good: stone medium plump, free-stone. 
Seedling pear from D W. Lathrop, Mass. ; 
seedling of Marie Louise which it resembles 
in external appearance; fruit not vet mature. 
Early Bergamot from Chas. E. Brooks, 
Mass ; size medium, of Bergamot form slightly 
elongated: yellow with brownish-red cheek, 
mostly overspread with a net-work of 
brownish russet; texture melting, juicy, 
flavor mild, vinous, quality very good, 
H. HENDRICKS. 
ILLINOIS STATE FAIR. 
(Rural Special Report.) 
The thirty-first annual fair of the Illinois 
State Agricultural Society, was held at the 
Driving Park, Chicago, Ill., Sept. 24-29, These 
grounds are situated a Knit three miles from 
the center of the city and are reached by only 
one line of horse cars, the C. B, & Q, Rail¬ 
road, and such conveyances as are always 
pressed into service at fair time. These were 
utterly inadequate to convey the crowds that 
attended on Wednesday,Thursday and Friday, 
The weather was all that the managers could 
wish for. A nice rain on the 23d made the 
ground rather muddy on the 24th; but the 
dry winds soon dried it up. This was the 
largest and best attended fair held bv this 
society. The hope that Chicago would be 
made the permanent place for holding this 
fair impelled the implement men to put up, 
under the supervision of Mr. M. Conrad, the 
assistant superintendent of mechanics and 
arts, fine buildings well arranged for the pur¬ 
pose of exhibiting their goods to the best ad¬ 
vantage. These buildings, covering all the 
western side of the Driving Parlc.were connect¬ 
ed together, so as to make one long covered line 
of exhibits through which ran a pathway, 
rivaling the accommodations for display in 
any exposition building ever constructed. 
First came the buildings of the prominent 
agricultural implement men; then Domestic 
and Art Halls: next Floral Hall and, last of 
all, Horticultural Hall. Opposite this line of 
buildings were handsome independent struc¬ 
tures raised by agricultural implement manu¬ 
facturers and the buildings and tents of the 
agricultural and daily newspapers. Inside the 
race track were scattered implements of all 
descriptions and here also were the rings for 
the showing of horses and cattle in the single 
classes. The cattle sheds extended around the 
outskirts of the grounds, with the sheep and 
swine in the southwest corner. For the first 
time the society allowed regular horse races 
and while these may have drawn crowds, the 
receipts did not show that this was the case. 
On Thursday, when the attendance was the 
largest, there being at least 50,000 people on 
the grounds, tbe gate receipts were only a 
little over $16,000. the number of complimen¬ 
tary tickets given to crop and meteorological 
reporters, exhibitors, etc., making up the re¬ 
mainder. The society has no extra receipts 
to show for allowing horse races, while visit¬ 
ors and exhibitors have much to grumble 
about. The moment the bell rang for a race, 
visitors were compelled to keep on either one 
side or the other of the track, and as the show 
was in two sections.no one in one section could 
visit the other until after the race was over. 
Exhibits were deserted as soon as a race was 
called. Many of the Board condemn racing 
and praise the position the Rural has taken 
on this point; but they are not strong enough 
to successfully resist the politicians whom 
they have to please in order to hold their 
positions. This will always be so as long as 
the State Board is under the influence of the 
political party that may at that time be in 
power. 
The Cattle Show was very line. Short¬ 
horns were not so numerous as might have 
been expected; still some very fine specimens 
were on exhibition. The principal exhibitors 
were J. H. Potts & Sons. J. H. Croft and 
Strawfcher Givens. The Herefords made a 
fine show and forced the Short-horn men to 
exert themselves to their utmost to save their 
laurels. The fine herds of C. M. Culbertson, 
Thomas Clark, Fowhr & Vaunatta, the Wy¬ 
oming Hereford Association, from Cheyenne 
G. S Burleigh, C. K. Pamele and T M. 
George, were on exhibition, making one of 
the best shows of this class ever seeu in this 
country. The Polled Aberdeen-Au cus were 
well represented by T. TV Harvey's fine herd 
and a couple of others with a few single entries. 
These attracted a great deal of attention. 
Hon. John Featherstone showed the only Gallo¬ 
ways on exhibition The Devons were not nu¬ 
merous; the principal herds were those of 
N. B. Choales and Whitmore and Younger. 
Messrs L, F. Ross aud Geldard A* Busk showed 
Red Polled Norfolk. The Jerseys were ibirly 
represented, and some very fine animals were 
shown. Among other herds was that of Corne¬ 
lius Easthope, including the $5,550 bull, 
King of Ashautee. and the cow Nancy Lee 
with a butter record of 26 pounds eight ounces, 
in seven days. John Boyd exhibited at the 
State Fair for the first time Champion Mag¬ 
net, Appleton 2nd, Nun of Patterson. Gabriel 
Champion, Minnie Gale, etc. V. Barter. Thus. 
Lyman, the McCormick Farm, and Jones & 
Sons, also showed some tine Jerseys, The 
Holsteinsand Dutch-Friesiaus were out. in large 
numbers showing that the dairy interest is 
active in this sectiou. Thos. TV Wales showed 
his fine Iowa herd which includes Mercedes 
whose butter record heads the list in the 
Rural’s Fair issue. F. C. Stevens showed a 
fine herd from New York, headed by the 
celebrated bull, De Johnston Stior. The 
Fundi 11a V alley. New York, herd ami mauv 
others made strong competition in this class. 
There is something radically wrong about the 
selection of judges for the dairy breeds at the 
Western fairs, and about the mode of judg¬ 
ing cattle. Too many interested parties are 
allowed within the cartle ring during the 
judging. The comraittee-uien are chosen of¬ 
ten on tbe grounds, and while they may be 
perfectly honest in their opinions, still they 
cannot be judges on the points of finely bred 
and pedigreed animals such as were shown 
on these grounds. The decisions made in sev¬ 
eral cases were simply ludicrous. What have 
