Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-04
The horticultural Society.
REPORT ON GRAPES.

not specially assigned to other committees,
have attended to their duties, and respectfully
report that they found upon the societys ta-
bles 10 parcels of the delightful fruit of the
vine, from twenty-four contributors.
They had no difficulty in the assignment of
the three largest premiums offered by the So
ciety, whether as concerning the comparative
or absolute merits of the competing collec-
tions; for the quality of these fruits was of
such character that the number of varieties in
the several instances was decisive.
They awarded, for the largest and best col
lection grown under glass, the premium of SIS
to MIR. VIM. L. Mortified of Worcester, for
his collection of IA varieties, consisting of
Hamburg Victoria, Black Hamburg, Golden
Chasselas, Tokay, Syrian, White Nice, White
Sweetwater, Wilmarth's Hamburg, New Black
-, Grizzly Frontignau, Early White NAL
vasic, Muscat OF Alexandria, Muscat Blanc
HAITI, and ConStantia of Zante.
To particulariZe the merits of these varie-
ties might be invidiOus, not only as between
competitors, but also as between the varieties
themselves. For it is difficult to avoid attrib-
uting what almost amounts to personality, in
their excellence, to the different fruits of this
class, produced by their several exhibitors.
To Mrs. A. D. Foster of Worcester was
awarded the premium of Sc, for the second
best collection grown under glass, consisting
of Black Hamburg, Wilmarths No. 16, Royal
Muscadine, Victoria Hamburg, and Gras
Bleu. %
The premium of SO was assigned to John
c. Mason Esq. of Worcester for the third best
collection grown under glass brought for
rn~1 Nv NJ
and consisting of Syrian and a noble profus
ion of Black Hamburg.
As regards the Worcester cutivators of all
classes of grapes, it may be proper to OBJ
serve that the disastrous hail-Storm in August
was fatal to the hopes and labors of several
of them, injurious to many others, and has
| probably effected a considerable reduction Of
| the number of contributors.
The specific premiums for native grapes
were awarded as follows:
For the best specimens of well ripened Isabella,
to Mr.. Z. d. Batcheder of North BroOkield; for
Concord do, Edward Earle of Worcester 81; for
Diana do, f. c. Within Of Whitinsville, 81; for
Hartford Prolific do 10 s. IL. Cotton of Worces-
ter, 81.
A large variety of other native grapes were
exhibited, one Of which, the Blackstone, is
| reputed as of decided merit for making wine.
1t was exhibited by Messrs. Edwin Draper of
Worcester, and Charles johnson of North
borough.
Another large and handsome grape exhib-
tied by Mrs. NJ. II. Wheeler of Worcester is
noticeable as being the product of vine at
least 100 years old. The enormous size of
the main trunk of this vine is the wonder OF
its neighborhood.
The premium of 81 for the best native
grape worthy of cultivation, was awarded to
+. H. Dewey Esq. of Worcester, for the Del
aware, and that of 81 to the ID best to Mr..
Joseph Lowell of Worcester, for the Early
Northern Muscadine.
In assigning the premium to the Delaware,
the committee felt justified in assuming that
the question of its nativity is substantially
settled by pomOlogists, while its intrinsic mer-
its are not disputed, and its character for pro-
ductiveness, hardness and early ripening
seemed sufficiently established to warrant the
award of the committee.
There were torty-One parcels of peaches
from fourteen contributors. Several of these
fruits were of rare excellence.
The premiums were assigned as follows:
To Mr. Asa II. Allen of Shrewsbury for the larg-
est and best collection, consisting of Sugar Rare
ripe, Lemon treestone, Late Crawford. Early Craw-
ford, Yellow RaTerpe, Norcross Seeding, Large
Cilngstone Rareripe, Maryland Seeding and Seed
ling, S4i to .. i. Hadwen Of Worcester, for his
CTawford's Early, being She best twelve specimens
3 O, one variety So; to Samuel Z. harrington of
worcester for his Seeding being the I'd best, 80;
to josiah q. Stone of Shrewsbury, for his Craw-
fords Early, Sd best, 81.
Seven dishes Of plums were offered by four
exhibitors. Some of these were valuable and
well known varieties. Others were STYLED
| seedlings. The committee found no premium
in the printed list offered for this class of
fruits. and they have not yentured to recon-
mend gratuities.
| Only one dish of ounces was exhibited.
| Certainly this fruit is still in high repute, the
annual demand for 1t is large, and the COM
mlttee express the hope that cultivators will
not abandon it. 1t is supposed that the
stock of trees in the gardens is nearly worn
out and that new ones are required. The mar
ket, this year, affords scarcely any, and a re-
newed supply could hardly fail to afford a
| profit.
Mrs. c. Goddard of Worcester, exhibited
| very beautiful and accurate colored wax
| models OF pears, peaches, grapes, &C., exhib-
| ting remarkable skill in this beautiful art of
copying the choice products of cultivation.
In conclusion it is proper to remark that in
the necessary absence OF two of this commit
tee the work has been performed by the re-
| naming majority, and that they were unan-
nous in all the conclusions set forth in this
report.
On Thursday, the 18th inst, the committee
found upon the tables choice and beautiful
| assortment OF peaches, most generously pro-
sented to the society by Mr.. Charles II. May
OF Woodstock, Conn, and consisting of Craw-
tord's Early, Crosse Mignoune, Feton de
Venus, Coolidge's Favorte, George w., Red
Rareripe, Early York, Red Velvet, Crawford's
Late, Snow Peach, NIalacotou, Seeding,
Late Rareripe, and Nutmeg peach.
The committee recommend that the thanks
OF the society be presented to Mr.. May for
his very valuable present of peaches, and
further that gratuity Of 50 be paid to him
| for the same.
Mr. >. Z. Harrington of Worcester present.
ed two bottles of choice wine, five years old.
one Of native grape and one OF elderberry. If
the society do not find these bottles full. the
committee can vouch that they, (the bottles,)
not the committee, have been so. All Of
which is respectfully submitted.
j.. CoNANT, }
E. S. STEBBNs.
Sept. 1862.
UXBRIDGE.-Joseph Jefferson of Uxbridge,
Nubi