Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-12-23

Getting of Fruit-GrOwers on Iona Island.


A recent convention of large number of
fruit growers assembled at Iona Island in the
| Highlands of the Hudson, the we'll known res.
idence of DIR. Grant, and containing his prop
/ sgating grounds and nursery. The Island
/ contains about 300 acres, most of it rocks,
| scrub pines, &c, but the central portion has a
/ fine deep grAvelly SOIL well adapted to the
propagation aud growth Of the vine. DR..
/ Grant makes the hardy grape specially, de-
voting Rll or nearly all bis grounds and houses
to their propagation for their SALE He has
ten or twelve glass structures for this purpose
averaging over a hundred feet in leugth-thus
afording facilities for doing large business
in this way. In addition TO the deep warm
soil an amphitheatre Of mountains which encir-
cies this Island, and sheltering it from severe
winds, contributes much to render it favora-
BILE locality for grape culture.
The convention alluded to, was called by
committee at New York, for the double pm
pose of collecting aud imparting information
on horticulture, aud fox efecting sale by auc-
iion Of some of the extensive stock of grape
vines raised on the grounds Nurserymen and
fruit-grOwers were in attendance from all por-
lions of the State, as well as some from New
England, New Jersey and the West. One Of
the large grapehouses was provided with tenn
pOrary floor aud nsat board spa,s lor the con-
vention, aud probably over two hundred persons
were in attendance, including many ladies'
VIM. CULLEN BRYANT presided and Henry
Ward Beecher. Horace Greeley, and D.. f
NoYes gave addresses. Other speakers were
present, but time did not permit the remarks
which they had prepared for the occasion.
H. w. Beecher gave an account of some of
the historic, commercial, economical and face
tious relotions of the apple, and afforded a good
deal of instruction and much amusement to the
audience. ejusty placed the apple in impOr-
tauce at the head of all fruits, urging its more
general rIauting and use on the table and for
cooking-stating that even "the gods" had
never enjoyed so great luxury as baked ap-
pies and milk, till cast out and consigned to the
records of mythology-aud said ifhe only knew
the inventor of the aPple-pie, be would gladly
vote for monument to her memory or make
a pilgrimage 10 her tomb. He had on his
farm near PeekskilI, an apple tree SO old that
an old lady aged 80 years had recently told
him that she remembered of playing under its
shade when little girl, and then it was an
old aud patriarchal tree. He bad that morn
ing measured its trunk four feet from the
ground, and found it IA feet and 10 inches in
circumference, and that it must have been q
large tree when its leaves we're shaken by the
reverberations of the cannon of the revolution.
Horace Greeley devoted his remarks to Or
namental and forest trees-shOwing not only
their Importance in an ornamental point Of
view, but more especially so on account Of
thier value as timber, and as shelter from the
sweep of winter winds. He recommended all
landowners to allow part Of their grounds
to grow up TO woodland, as a means, among
otkers, of enabling us to return to our old
open wood fires,--so intimately connected with
home comfort and home associations, quoting
the remarks that while patriots might appeal
in time of danger to the people, by calling on
them to defend their fresides, yet none would
think of saying "defend your stovep p
Dr. Noyes read learned and elaborate ar.
gument in favor Of the use of wine as a bever-
age-statng that the culture of the grape, and
the manufacture and use of wine, had, through
ont the history of all nations, been found to
keep peace with and had been confined to civ
ilization while such nations as had not made
wine had been barbarous in their Character
but he did not state under which head he
would place the people Of Northern States Of
America, where but little wine has ever been
made He showed that alcohol is pOisin,
aud needless to persons in perfect health but
reasoned to the conclusion that portion, ia
ken in wine, was beneficial to nearly all per-
sons, whose system are either more or less out
of order or suffering under too much mental
activity or excitement.
Previous to the delivery of thege addresses,
a large auction sale was made of vines of the
Israea and Iona grape, amounting to several
Thousand, al about 80 cents to one dollar each,
in lots of $50 or 500 vines The addresses
were intersperced with songs and music from
persons whose service were secured for the oc-
,asiou. aud every effort was made by Dr.
Gratt to give his numerous guests right
good time, although the iastidious may pos
sibIy object to this intermxture Of speeches.
vendue, and songs. Much credit is certainly
due 10 him for bis cestly lberaliiy in char
terng a steamer to carry visitors from the
railroad to the Island. providing rowOoals for
The same purpose, and furnishing other iacili-
ties, al entirely free to the visitors. II was
the intention TO have had lectures in open
ground, with the growing trees and vines be-
fore speaker aud audience for illustration, bat
a lack of time, owing 90 some unexpected de-
lays in public cUnveyances, prevented the car
rying Gus Of he plan, with she exception of
single lecture of the kind from Peter b. Mead
Of New York.