Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-08-26

ii o Z z j c u I
I'VE copy from a recent number Of the
Ns@ York Observer the snbjoined account Of
o visit made by the editor TO Iona, the home of
our horticultural friend, DR.. G.. W. GRANT. In
September last, while in New York attending
the meeting Of the American Physiological So
ciety, in company with Nh. Bateham, of Co
lnmbus, and Mr.. Knox, of Pittsburgh, we
made our second visit to this delightful locali-
y, enjoying for o day aud night the generous
Hospitality Of the DR.. and his excellent family,
enjoying the rare treat of rambling through his
glass structures covering nearly an acre. and
strolling over his well cultivated grounds, par
taking freely Of luscious grapes of almost every
known variety, superb pears. and other choice
fruits. To a horticulturist it is worth a trip
TO New York to visit the enthusiastic Doc
COZ at his charming island home.
The Treasures of Iona.
4 few years since a stock company wa
formed in this city, whose ostensible object
was to recover the lost or hidden treasures of
Capt. Kidd" We had not the honor of a
personal acquaintance with the oIiginators of
that company, but some Of the stockholders Of
said company we knew, who placed 50 much
confidence in the value of the stock, as to fur
nish the needful for making extensive excava-
tons. by means of Golfer dams. on the point 8
few rods above the old Cadwell's landing, OPP
posite to Peckskill. Whatever amount OF
treasure Capt. Kidd may have hidden there OF
elsewhere, it is to this day manifest to passers
by, that the members of the said corporation
sunk more treasure, hy many thousands, than
will ever be recovered from Capt. Kids de-
posts.
These were among the reflections which pas
sed through oar mind one lovely morning of
last week, while in company with a valued hor-
ticultural friend, We were taken rapidly past
this point by q skilled oarsinan, on our way
rom Peekskiil, to visit the fourishing vineyards
and nurseries of our friend DIR. c.. W. Grant,
Of Iona. Very few of all the thousands wao
have passed this beautiful emerald /" island,
set as 3 gem amid the magnificent scenery OF
the Highlands, and like q porter's lodge, as it
were, at its very entrance, have ever noticed
its existence, much less have dreamed of its va
ried and extensive horticultural treasures. The
island itself, lying to the left in passing up the
Hudson, and about one mile above the first
high point on the eastern shore, is not extern
sive, and much of its surface is SO thickIy
wooded, as to conceal the fourishing planta-
tons of fruit which have been made within the
few years past. There are about forty acres
under cultivation, with the choicest vines aud
fruit trees. The soil, naturally dry and warm,
has been cultivated in the most thorough man
Der. Everything placed in the soil makes re-
markable growth, and yields its fruits abun
dainty.
DR.. Grant has recently given his attention
almost exclusively to the propagation Of the
most choice, hardy American grape vines. By
the c~oudagraiion of his p~ropagating house
more than a year since, a large stock Of choice
young vines was destroyed, inaicting a severe
loss upon the whole country, as well as on the
proprietor. Consisting largely of such varie-
ties as the Delaware, Rebecca, SC, the supply
to be obtained elsewhere was not equal to the
demand. By the loss of stock thus, DR.. Grant
has been unable TO meet the public demand up
to the present time. He was compelled to re-
turn many thousand of dollars forwarded with
orders that he could not meet. Lamenting
deeply, as we have, his failure tossupply such
valuable stock, we were gratifed to find on in
spection. so many thousands of the Delaware
and other choice varieties, in such luxuriant
aud healthy growth. The young plants, many
OF them now hardening their wood, appear to
be perfectly at home in the genial soil of
Iona. It is almost incredible that vines ofsuch
and in such numbers, could have been pro-
duced in 80 short a period.
We should infer, from the amount of stock
Of these varieties, that DR.. Grant regards the
and the Diana as among the best
hardy grapes in cultivation. Both have been
30 long and widely cultivated as to estab-
lish a reliable character.
The Anna, a seeding white grape. of New
the stock of which is almost exclusive
in the Dr.'s hands, We know from our own
cultivation is a fine fruit.
The Concord, Clara, Hartford Prolific, LIE !
noir, Louisa, Logan, Rebecca, To Kalon, I'm
ion Village, with many others, have been less
cultivated, but all promise much for the fu-
vineyards of America.
Others there are in DR.. G.'s collection, the
of which has been confined to a few
Aliens Seedlings number some
half a dozen, which promise much.
DIR. Grant appears as familiar with the hab-
its and characteristics of all this numerous
family, as he ever was with the bones, muscles
and arteries with which he had to do in bis
professional labors. Great care and accuracy |
is observed that each variety be distinctly
marked, that no disappointment may arise by
forwarding wrong kinds. We would not dare
to say how many thousands Of vines, in variety,
we saw in propagation. We can say, howev-
er, that all who send their orders in due time
may have the expectation Of receiving fine and
plants.
E~VERBEARrNG MULBERRY.
This new seeding of Mr.. Downing is extern
grown by DIR. G., and is a remarka-
bly, thrifty and distinct MISUNDERSTANDING
to a growth of ten or more feet in
season.
But we fail to speak of the Pears, Apples,
Piums, &C., which adorn the grounds. The
uxuriance and productiveness of the Flemish
Beauty Pear is remarkable.
The Wine Trade of Francs
Five million acre sof French soil are devoted
o grape culture, producing annually over eight
million gallons Of wine, at an average
cost Of ten cents per gallon. From the cheap
ness, it is the almost universal drink of the
aeonleA In Paris it is computed that each in
consumes ZIG bottles Of wine in a
PEAR. In the wine district Of France, each