ed the two classes of organs-stamens and parallel case to the strawberry. Such inpistols. This is indeed a very interesting stances, however, should teach us caution aberration from the usual type, but is not a about asserting impossibilities.—ED. The Vineyard. THE HERBEMONT GRAPE. To the Cincinnati Horticultural Society: GENTLEMEN-I wish to draw your attention to the Herbemont grape, with the hope of inducing you to recommend its extensive cultivation as a wine and table grape. The bunch is of fair size, skin thin, pulp soft and juicy, and of fine flavor. It is hardy in this latitude, and the most vigorous grower, and in this respect surpassing all others. The wood is of a peculiar color, and the vine is resembled by no other one, except a native grape sent me by Mr. Thatcher, of this State, and may always be distinguished even in winter. the aroma and flavor of the Spanish Manzanilla, (Mansinælla,) but superior. Cozzens, of the wine house of Bininger & Cozzens, of New York, was surprised to find a native wine of its character, and, as a still wine, preferred it to the Catawba. I am inclined to believe that a porous soil is most suitable for its cultivation, and that no grape will prove as valuable for wine or the table, on the rich and beautiful hills in Kentucky. I shall be pleased to furnish seed of this grape next fall, to vine dressers who wish to experiment. A strange notion prevailed in Europe, some years since: According to their doctrine, if you wished to surpass the Catawba grape by one of like aroma and flavor, you must not plant its seed, but go back to its great grand father, the fox, (charter oak plants, for which many persons last spring paid $5 a piece,) whether to use as wine and table grapes, or common balls, “this deponent saith not." But many persons will say, with European writers, “seedlings will not bear till nine or ten years old." I am past 70. Yet I yearly plant hundreds of seedlings, and hope to see many of them in fruit. I have some two hundred seedlings, raised in the open ground, two years old last spring, to which no special attention has been given. Some of these vines now The origin of the Herbemont is unknown. Some persons have contended that it is a foreign grape, and they infer this, as there are but few foreign grapes of similar size, equal to it as a table grape. As we have never found a foreign grape of so vigorous a growth, and so hardy, I have always classed it with our natives. Since I obtained the grape from Mr. Thatcher, I consider the question settled. It is difficult to point out any strong difference in the vines, or the bunches of fruit. The fruit of the Thatcher grape has some of the qualities, and the appearance of the Herbemont, but is inferior for the table and wine. As a wine grape, I do not expect to meet the superior of the Herbemont, till we cultivate seedlings from it, and from other native grapes of measure between three and four inches in good quality. circumference, and have new shoots, from The singularity of the wine is, that it has twelve to fifteen feet long. In planting seed TRANSACTIONS. of some varieties of grape, the young plants all strongly resemble the parent. In others there is a change in the color of the wood and shape of the leaf, indicating a change in the color and character of the grape. That a proper appreciation of the character of the Herbemont vine may be obtained, I would urge vine-growers to visit the vineyard of Mr. Rintz, on Bold Face Creek, four miles below the city. They will there see a vine of this grape, in its abundant crop, I believe exceeding any vine in any vineyard in the State. I this spring grafted forty new kinds of native grapes. Unfavorable as the season has been, thirty-seven of them are living, 573 and some of the grafts have fruit, and have grown thirteen feet. In grafting, it is desirable to have the grafts grow long, and to do this, it is necessary to cut or break off the lateral branches. Can this be done without forcing out the fruit buds of the next season? Some vine-dressers say, if nipped off when one or two inches long, the fruit buds of the next year will not shoot out? Others, that the only safe rule is, to let the side shoots grow from six to ten inches, and then top them. Will either method prevent the starting of the fruit buds of the next season? Yours, respectfully, N. LONGWORTH. Cransactions. THE CINCINNATI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the strong Rhubarb taste to which many object to in Cincinnati Horticultural Society: Your committee, as instructed, visited Mr. Consi dine's place, and were highly gratified at the fair display of fruit on his plum trees, many of them literally bending under their enormous loads. Mr. Considine explained to the committee, and the other gentlemen present, the plan he had pursued to produce such a satisfactory result on trees which had never before perfected fruit. At the recommendation of Mr. M. Kelly, he had mixed six pounds flour of sulphur, one half bushel quick lime, in one barrel water, this he threw over part of his trees with a garden syringe, after the fruit had set in the spring, at two or three different times only. It is to this cause he attributes the protection of his fruit from the ravages of the Curculio. Mr. C.'s trees are mostly large, probably ten to fifteen years old, and he assured the committee that he had never been enabled to save any fruit before the application of the above remedy; though, for many years past, his trees had blossomed, and set fruit fully as well as this year, but all had fallen a prey to this little insect. It was really a charming sight to see so many trees so crowded with fruit, without the least evidence of the existence of such an insect as the Curculio. Menand, Alt any; Mr. M. also sent Stanhopea grandiflora, Colantha veratifolia, and Bletia hyacinthoides, each in full flower. A collection of twelve seedling verbenas was contributed by T. Dunlap, Mr. Lenoir sent Mazeppa, Princess de Navarre, and Madame de Seviegne, three handsome French varieties. Zanesville Horticultural Society, Peaches-J. L. Cox presented Red Rare-ripe, of good size and fully ripe. Apples-Seedings resembling the Early Chandler, in size and quality, were presented by C. Hal. The same gentleman presented Early Harvest, also Black Mazard Cherries. After having examined these trees, Mr. C. took us to the other trees, to which this remedy had not been applied. On them but little fruit was found, it having mostly dropped off. Mr. C. states that they were equally as full set in the spring as the others, and he deemed that the circumstances surrounding them, as to soil, etc., were about equal. The difference in the quantity of fruit was certainly remarkable, and induces the committee to recommend to plum growers the application of this cheap, simple, and safe compound, next year, in order fully to test its merits. Should it prove successful, there is no calculating its immense value to the cultivator in adding this delicious fruit to the luxury of our desert. Mr. C. has been in The American Wine-Growers' Association the practice, in former years, of using lime and gravel around the trunks of his trees, but to no good effect. In examining the few fruit which remained on the trees to which the compound had not been applied, it was found, in some instances, free from the puncture of the Curculio; and at least in one instance where the mixture had been applied, a large portion of the fruit had dropped. Your committee also examined plum trees in other gentlemen's grounds, especially those of Wm. Orange, Esq. His trees were found loaded with fruit. Some of them he has syringed with salt water, the effect of which was very injurious to the foliage, but to others nothing had been done. On the grounds of one of your committee there are trees full of perfect fruit, which seldom before matured any, to which nothing was done, but were left to themselves and the Curculio. This is also found the case in other gardens. Your committee, therefore, while they would decidedly recommend the application of the mixture to all cultivators, not only of the Plum, but to the Nectarine and Apricot, as they are alike the subject of destruction by the Curculio, are constrained to say, although appearances in Mr. C.'s grounds are so cheering and flattering, it may be induced by other causes, not permanent in their duration. The above is respectfully submitted. On motion, adjourned. Committee. J. C. JEFFERIES, Secretary. New York Horticultural Society. THE Semi-annual exhibition of this Society was held at Metropolitan Hall, New York, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 14th and 15th of June. The hall was well arranged to show off the plants, and the entrance was tastefully decorated and enriched by fine coniferæ in pots. Mr. Cope, of Philadelphia, contributed three leaves of his Victoria Regia, which were displayed in a large octagon-shaped tank, in the center of the hall. The show of pelargoniums was excellent, and the specimens by Mr. Chorlton, of Staten Island, and Mr. Hamlin, gardener to W. C. Langley, were well grown, and freely bloomed. Among the new plants were Hoyabella, Cleroden dron fallax, and Crytoceras reflexas, from Mr. Duncan. Ixora coccinea and Begonia luxurians, from L. for June and July, Met at William Heaver's, Reading Road Nursery, Saturday, June 25th, 1853, Dr. Rehfuss in the chair. A considerable number of members were present on the occasion, many of whom, both before and after the regular business, enjoyed themselves in examining the various specimens of trees, shrubs, and plants, which were there collected. We partic larly noticed an interesting group of the rarer coniferæ contai, specimens of Pius insignis, P. pindarow, P. excelsa, Arancaria imbricata, Abies menzissii, Amorinda, A. Douglassii, Cedar of Lebanon, C. Deodar, Juniperus excelsa, Torreya taxifolia, Thuya adpressa, Capressus funebris, etc. A bed of Carnations and Piccotees also attracted general admiration. Although the excessive drought had operated prejudicially to their full development there were some of the best marked flowers we have ever seen. We also observed for the first time some of the improved English Hollyhocks in blossom; many of Our friends may, perhaps. not be aware of the great improvement that careful cultivation has effected in this flower. The vinery we found nearly stripped of its produce, having been forced, and the fruit disposed of. The greenhouses were emptied of their contents; but intersperted in the beds and borders, and ranged in various favorable spots, we observed the largest and most varied collection of plants that has come under our notice in the west. The discussion being upon working the soil in vineyards, the president called on members to state their views. General M. S. Wade had the ground in front of the walls on which his grapes were trained, dug to the width of eight feet. B. Hodge said his vineyard was on a very elevated ridge or hill; he preferred the hill top to the slope. His soil was loam, with a substratum of sand ten or fifteen feet below the surface. Much of the upper stratum was sandy, the loam predominating near the surface. His vineyard was in the finest condition; he never lost a crop by rot; believed his sandy sub-soil prevented the rot, and gave a perfect drainage to the land. The prevailing timber on the land was originally sugar-maple. He planted his grapes six feet by four, to enable him to plow between the vines. He plows the vineyard after corn planting-second week in May-finds some roots even in shallow plowing; plows and harrows alterwards, to keep down weeds; objects to severe summer pruning; keeps his vines well stocked with foliage; recommends plowing, as the most economical mode of working the soil TRANSACTIONS. in a vineyard; after planting the vineyard always plow shallow. Mr. Buchanan had his vineyard worked in the spring, with the two pronged hoe, to the depth of four or five inches; afterward used the cutting hoes, merely to keep down weeds. He found this method very economical, as his vineyard is on sloping ground; presumed the plow or spade would be appropriate in other situations; did not think either would make much difference in the growth of the vines, it being merely a question of economy. In pruning, he had the tips of all but the shoot for next season's bow," pinched off before the blossoming, afterward shortened the laterals, and was now having the shoots tied up. Mr. Sleathe observed that he had this season used the hoe only. He had shallow surface drains through his vineyard, to carry off the heavy rains in the summer; in giving the spring hoeing he preserved the surface of the drains hard. He preferred cultivating with the hoe, as being best and cheapest. In regard to manuring, Mr. Buchanan stated that he gave his vines well-rotted manure every two or three years, and he thought the vines should be manured wherever a feeble growth of wood showed the soil to need it. Mr. Heaver suggested the cultivator as an excellent worker for the soil, loosening the ground to the depth of several inches without injuring the roots materially, and eradicating weeds at a much cheaper rate than could be done by the hoe. The President, Dr. Rehfuss.-The judicious working of the soil has the greatest influence on the quan. tity and quality of the wine. The first object of hoeing is to loosen the soil, so that heat, air, and moisture may penetrate, and aid in decomposing the mineral and other constituents, that they may be brought into a state capable of assimila tion by the roots of the plants; another object is to destroy weeds. It is impossible to give certain rules as to how or when the soil should be worked, as the nature of the ground, whether hilly or level, the deep or shallow planting of the vines, the lateness or forwardness of the spring, and the varieties of soil and climate, will require dissimilar treatment, and a great deal of care and judgment, as well as a perfect know ledge of the vine is required to determine the proper working of the soil. If the soil is loosened too early, the roots are in danger from late frosts; if too late, and in a dry spring, the vines may dry up. My vineyard at the back of my house, the aspect of which is E. E. South, soil clayey and retentive of moisture, surface level, and on the summit of a hill, I had hoed in April. My other vineyard on the south side of a hill, laid out in terraces, I did not commence hoeing before the end of May, and owing to the dry soil, and dry weather, about one-eighth of it has not been hoed yet. This spring hoeing should be done six to nine inches deep, and the upper soil turned under. Plowing, on account of the cost of hoeing by hand. will be more generally adopted in this country, particularly in extended vineyards, where the work could not be done with the hoe in proper time. Ploughing was found to be less beneficial to the soil than hoeing, but as the plough without much cost may be run often through the vineyard, the work may be equally efficient. Besides. a heavy rain may occur, after hoeing, and close the soil against the action of the atmosphere. The object of hoeing would. of course, be lost, and the work could only be done again at great expense, whereas the plough would at a trifling cost of labor restore it to a proper state. One rule is certain, a cold and retentive soil wants repeated working, while a dry and thin soil, on hills, should have much less. A second but light hoeing is necessary in June or July, to destroy weeds, and give access to the air. A third hoeing is recommended, in Europe, that the heat 575 may penetrate the soil, and assist in ripening the fruit, the nights being at that season, there, quite cold. This third hoeing is not necessary here, but a hoeing late in the fall, to destroy the "larvæ" of insects, would be very beneficial. The monthly meeting was held at the residence of Thomas H. Yeatman, on the river road, Saturday, July 30, 1853. This was, perhaps, considering the number of members present, and the extent and excellence of the collection of Wines exhibited, the most interesting meeting the Association has ever held. The weather was beautiful, and Mr. Yeatman received the members with characteristic politeness and hospitality. Before the meeting organized, the gentlemen walked through the beautiful grounds of Mr. Y, and were shown his extensive wine house and cellars. The excellent machinery and systematic arrangement of the wine house elicited general admiration. The vineyard, one of the best and most showy in America, appeared to be in fine condition. It covers to the very top the southern face of one of the steep river hills, and possesses unusual advantages for thoroughly ripening the grape. The ascent was a trying operation; but when the summit was gained, the view of the magnificent landscape, with the fine vineyard and the Ohio river in front, were ample pay for the toil. The vines were vigorous and healthy, although objection was made to the severe summer pruning they had received. Very little rot was perceived, and the crop of grapes they bore was really enormous. The meeting organized in the wine house, the President, Dr. L. Rehfuss, took the chair, and M. Kelly was appointed Secretary Dr. Mosher proposed that the Association offer a premium for the best cultivated vineyard in the surrounding country, and another for the best sample of native wine, of any age. Mr. Werk spoke in approval of Dr. M.'s proposal, and recommended that the amount of the premiums should be liberal. Mr. Graham moved that a premium of a silver cup value $30, be offered for the best managed vineyard, and also that premiums be offered for the best native wine, of any age, and the best of the present season, samples to be taken from casks containing not less than thirty gallons. Dr. Mosher suggested a premium for the best sparkling wine. Mr. Buchanan said he presumed the term native wine meant Catawba, or other native varieties; but added, that he had no objection to the offer of premiums for other kinds. Dr. Rehfuss said he thought the term native wine should apply to all wines made from grapes produced in the country, whether of native or foreign origin. Mr. Yeatman proposed that the premium for the best managed vineyard should not be given to one of less than three acres in extent, and assigned reasons which were generally acquiesced in. The whole subject was then referred to a committee composed of the President, Treasurer, and Secretary, with instructions to report a schedule of premiums at the next meeting. The meeting then proceeded to the examination of the Wines presented; but owing to the lateness of the hour, and the great number of samples, many merritorious wines were, no doubt, passed over too hurriedly. It was generally agreed, that at no former meeting were so many good Wines tested-the superiority of the Wines of the recent year proving that the skill and experience of our wine-growers have affected a decided improvement in the quality of our Native Wines, and that our Catawba Grape can be made to produce a wine to gratify the most fastidious palate. From a careful comparison of the memoranda handed by members to the Secretary-the standard of excellence being 100-the examination resulted as follows: DATE. MAKER'S NAME. GRAPE. :• • • · · · · · do.......... 1852... Ross.. 21........do 6.... 12 ..do. ........ .1852. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .67.6 ..89. Bogen. 87.3 Yeatman. ......... 77.6 Rentz... 76.9 ...do........ 1846 Yeatman........................ 72 6 21... do......... 2.do.... .... 1846 Yeatman. .... 1849. .... ...... .77.2 .91.4 58. ........... 76.7 Bogen. 1850 .... ........ ........67.5 1852.... McWilliams ...... .82.2 5........ ..do ........ 1851 Werk. ........ Yeatman. ........ .... 27...do ........ ·1849 4. do... 59.6 .67.3 1847. . Yeatman... .. .. . ..66. .... Your committee, having examined the several kinds of strawberries grown in the vicinity of Pittsburg, and having been aided by the experience of the growers themselves, as well as a close examination of the plants on the ground, have prepared the following report, viz: From the great productiveness, largeness, and uniformity of size of the Buist's Prize Strawberry, we consider it the best and most profitable for market gardeners, and would class it first on our list. The Victoria, which is now called the British Queen, is an earlier ripening fruit than the above. A few of the first pickings, having a coxcomb shape, are very large Add to this its exquisite flavor, which makes up for the shortness of the crop, and it is entitled to be second best on our list. We class Hovey's Seedling, No. 3, on our list. It is a very fine fruit, and can not be called much inferior, if any, to No. 1 and 2, being very prolific, and well deserves its place among the collection of either an amateur or market gardener. In conclusion, your committee would state that they are fully satisfied, that the plants and fruit sold in this 1849... Bogen of Yeatman 74.6 market, by the name of Wilmot's Superb, are the 1852. Yeatman......... 76 6 identical Buist's prize strawberry. Yeatman.........80.6 .Catawba- 1852 Werk ..... do.... 1851 ...... 32. Isabella, Sweet,⚫ .......... Bogen.. 33. Catawba.. .1850.. Buchanan 44.......do ........ 45 ....do. .... 1852 Rehfuss. 1851 .... .... ..87. ........ ...... ... .......... Bogen. 1848.. Hatch.. ..... 1849 Yeatman 1850. . 1851 . Yeatman .... .85. 758 79.8 75. 75. ......... Bogen .... .... 1851 Bogen... Werk The committee also report the several varieties, viz: McAvoy's Superior, Schneicke's Pistillate, Burr's New Pine, Bicton's Pine, and others, are in the hands of proficient cultivators, but another year will be required to test their value. A report was read from Mr. Updike respecting the 85.4 Curculio, which he had driven off successfully for four years, by using one peck of dry well slacked fime, and one pound of flour sulphur; mix thoroughly, and dust it over the entire tree early in the morning, when the 70.6 dew is heavy; this should be repeated for five or six times, or until every part of the tree is well coated, 92. with a two gallon tin caunister, punched with quarter .92. inch holes, and a handle of proper length, a tree may 96.7 be well dusted in two minutes. The best time to begin using the preparation is as soon as the bloom begins to fall. Some of the lime will of course fall to the ground around the tree. It is recommended to dig this lightly under the surface. .92. 967 95. 96.2 70. 52 ...... do........ 1850.... Bogen The monthly display of fruits, flowers, and vegetables was a very creditable one indeed, and premiums were awarded as follows: The Committee on Vegetables report: For the best Stowel Evergreen Corn, R. McKnight. The Committee on Plants and Fowers report the following premiums, viz: To Jas. Mc Kean for best hand bouquet. Vice President-John Murdock, Jr. Corresponding Secretary-Robert McKnight. We have monthly exhibitions, when small prizes are awarded for the best articles offered. ROBT. MCKNIGHT, The Fruit Committee beg leave to report that the display of fruit was very fair. To George Lowen, Preu ium for basket of Peaches. To John L. Snider, for Peaches and four varieties of Plums and Apricots. |