Page images
PDF
EPUB

new cider on a sorgho evaporator. It was very much admired for its fine color and consistence, as well as excellent flavor. The opinion was expressed that the article will become one of considerable commercial importance, as well as a domestic luxury. The following communication from the manufacturers was read:

Ohio Pomological Society:

RESPECTED SIRS-We send you by express several specimens of cider jelly, which you will please have the goodness to test and dispose of ad libitum. It is made purely of the juice of the apple, without any admixture whatever, no sugar and no chemicals. The apples were ground and pressed in the ordinary way, and the cider, after being strained, and before its fermentation, was passed in a thin and nearly continuous carrent over the intensely heated surface of our clarifying and evaporating sugar pan. The whole process of cleansing and condensing to the requisite consistency for jellies, being about eight gallons into one, is performed in from twenty to thirty minutes from the time that the cider enters the clarifier until it leaves the opposite end of the evaporator, duly cleansed, condensed and cooked. From fifteen to twenty barrels of cider may be thus transformed per day of ten hours' service, on a pan of suitable dimensions for family or neighborhood use.

Our apparatus is made of copper, and proves equally adapted to the manufacture of these pleasant tarts and our northern sweets. It is observable that cider jellies do not (at least in our three years' experiments,) conjeal into candy, nor mould on the surface. Its flavor also improves by age. The jellies herewith presented are of this past season's manufacture-were made of a mixture of tart and sweet apples, and the fair samples of several thousand gallons made in this region by ourselves and by others who have adopted our implements and method of manufacture. An abundance of the like may, in propitious seasons, be made to advantage in all the fruit-growing portions of our country. It has been much admired wherever introduced, and our physicians prefer it for their patients to other jellies made of the best materials.

Respectfully submitted,

C. CORY & SONS, Lima, Ind.

January 11, 1864.

MEETING OF THE AD INTERIM COMMITTER.

At Cleveland, September, 1863.

DISCUSSION ON GRAPES AND PEACHES.

This meeting was held on Wednesday evening, the week of the State Fair, for the purpose of examining some of the fruits on exhibition at the Fair, and discussing their merits, &c.

The season having been quite favorable for grapes, the display of this fruit was uncommonly fine, and embraced a large number of new varieties, or such as are but little known; hence it was thought best to devote most of the time of the meeting to this subject.

The President of the Society (Dr. Warder,) not being present, the Vice Presiden J. Austin Scott, took the chair. The Secretary, (Mr. Bateham,) stated the object of the meeting, and presented specimens of a number of varieties of grapes and peaches taken from the tables at the Fair, which he desired to have examined and discussed these fruits not being in season at the usual time of the meetings of the society.

GRAPES.

Cuyahoga.-Specimens nearly ripe, quite good. Mr. Bateham said he had heard several persons at the Fair express their dissent from the remarks of Dr. Taylor in our last report on this variety—that it deserved more praise than was there awarded it. Dr. Taylor replied that for two or three seasons past, this variety had not met the expectations of its friends; but it had done better the present season, and he was persuaded when the new vines came into bearing, with proper treatment, it will sustain all reasonable expectations and representations that have been made respecting it. Lydia.-Specimens fine-from Mr. Carpenter, of Kelley's Island, and Mr. bell, of Delaware. Mr. Bateham said he had seen the vines in bearing at Mr. Carpenter's, and was quite favorably impressed-more so than heretofore with this va. riety-he regretted that Mr. Carpenter was not able to be present and give the result of his experience.

Camp

Mr. Campbell said the Lydia had fruited finely with him this season-though last year it showed some disposition, in common with many other varieties, to rot; less, however, than Catawba, Diana, Anna, and some others. This year it has no superior in flavor and quality, except the Delaware, in my collection. Its time of ripening is only about one week later than Delaware; berries large and very handsome-bunches on young vines rather small, though larger than those of Rebecca at same age. His present impression is that the Lydia will prove one of the very best light colored grapes yet introduced.

Allen's Hybrid.-Another white or light-colored grape-Mr. Campbell said it fruited well with him this season, and is a very handsome and good grape. The bunches rather large and compact; berries full medium, color and flavor much resembling the Chassellas; skin thin, flesh tender and delicate-valuable for amateur culture, but too delicate for market, or for distant carriage.

Mr. Bateham said he had hoped this would prove just what we wanted for a hardy white grape; but from what he had seen of the vine and fruit, he was afraid it was too much like its foreign parent to prove hardy and reliable here; still he would recommend it for trial by amateurs. Dr. Taylor spoke favorably of it, and thinks it may prove hardy and valuable.

Rebecca. Fine specimens exhibited, and the fruit esteemed by all present, but the feeble growth of the vine and liability to mildew in unfavorable seasons, were admitted to be serious objections.

Creveling-Specimens fully ripe-good, but not high flavored-resembling Isabella. Mr. Bate ham said he had found this in bearing the present season at Mr. Carpenter's, on Kelly's Island, also at Mr. Ensign's, in Lake county; he was pleased with the variety, especially on account of its earliness.

35

Mr. Campbell said he had tested it, and so far his impressions of it were favorable; be found it earlier than any other black grape of decent quality, much superior to the Hartford Prolific in its flavor and freedom from pulp, as well as in hanging perfectly on the vine, even when over ripe. The Creveling is ripe very soon after it is colored, and does not, like many others, need to hang a long time to acquire its best flavor. Diana. Fine bunches exhibited from Columbus, Cleveland, and other sectionsnot fully ripe, but quite good, and promising well. Specimens of a spurious kind were also exhibited-cuite worthless in character, but the vines have been extensively disseminated for genuine. Mr. Bateham said the vine had fruited well at Columbus, and was much liked by amateurs, though he had not found it as much earlier than the Catawba in its time of ripening as its Eastern friends had claimed for it.

Capt. Stewart, of Cleveland, had not thought much of the Diana until last season, and the present it had done very well with him. This season he had found it almost equal to the Delaware. Mr. Boalt, of Norwalk, also spoke well of it-said it ripened ten or twelve days earlier than the Catawba with him. Dr. Taylor thought it was variable in quality and time of ripening; he had it very good this year. Mr. Powers said he had two vines, got for Diana; much alike, but not quite identical; one ripened a week or two before the other-perhaps several spurious varieties are abroad.

Anna.-Specimens unripe, and the testimony of all who had tried it was, that it ripens too late to be of value in this latitude.

Ontario and Union Village -Specimens of both these were exhibited, and so nearly alike that most persons would say they were identical. Mr. Luce, of Ashtabula, had fruited the Ontario two seasons, and was well pleased with it; vine grows well, seems perfectly hardy, and free from mildew; fruit ripens about the same time as the Isabella; bunch and berry larger, not of first quality, but good. Dr. Taylor also spoke favorably of it; was not sure that it would not prove identical with Union Village, as had been claimed by some of the eastern pomologists, but he thought otherwise. Mr. Campbell would not say positively that the Ontario is not the Union Vil lage; but the difference in fruiting on his vines the past three years has led him to doubt their being the same. The vines called Ontario have invariably stood the winter and spring frosts better, and had larger and more compact bunches, and ripened earlier than the Union Village. Their habit of growth and foliage are alike.

Tokalon, Garrigues, and Louisa-Dr. Taylor said, could only be regarded as sub-varieties of the Isabella, and of no particular value.

Isabella and "Aiken "-Most of the grapes exhibited at the Fair as Isabellas were of the kind having large compact bunches, and large round berries, so unlike the old style of Isabellas that few persons could regard them as the same, and yet the testi mony of a large number of the growers would seem to show that the change is only the result of soil, season, and culture. Mr. Bateham called attention to the remarkable difference among the specimens exhibited; he said his attention had first been called to this subject by witnessing similar exhibitions in this part of the State two or three years ago, and on calling the attention of fruit growers to it, through the papers, he was informed that the large round variety was not the Isabella, but should be called

but

the Aiken. Since that time he had seen more of these grapes and the growers, he is still unable to satisfy himself that there are two distinct varieties-and yet he admits that the differenee in the specimens is greater than he has ever supposed could be produced by soil and culture.

Capt. Stewart said he had found in his vineyard great difference among Isabella vines, in the size, shape, and time of ripening of the fruit, as affected by the soil and location; could cut some ten days earlier than others-thinks all the difference in the specimens exhibited may be effects of soil, &c. Mr. Storrs, of Painesville, expressed the same opinion.

Mr. Oviatt, of Richfield, Summit county, said he had a vineyard partly on clay soil and part sandy loam; the vines all propagated from one source by himself, and those growing on the sandy soil produce larger and more compact bunches, and larger and rounder berries than those on the clay-difference like that exhibited in specimens here to-night and at the Fair; hence he did not believe in the Aiken variety.

Dr. Taylor thought it would be found that the large round specimens grew on rich sandy land where the roots found plenty of food and moisture, and the vines not overloaded with fruit. Dr. Kirtland had told him that last fall he found the large round (Aiken) variety growing on his ground where the vine stood near a sewer, while other vines of the same origin, on common soil, bore old fashioned Isabellas.

Mr. Wild, of Brownhelm, Lorain county, said that a variety resembling the Isabella, but a rounder berry was introduced in his neighborhood fifteen or twenty years ago, by a German, who claimed to have brought it from Germany (?) Specimens of the fruit were sent to Mr. Longworth, and he pronounced it Isabella or a sub-variety of it. Mr. Bateham thought this might be another branch of the Aiken. He was convinced that there had been several good seedlings raised from the Isabella, during the past forty years, and pretty extensively disseminated through the country, but he did not believe any of the stories about such grapes being brought from the old countries.

Dr. Beardslee, of Painesville, said there was a seedling variety of the Isabella growing in his vicinity which he thought was earlier and larger than the old one. CONCORD-Only a few specimens at the Fair, but very good. Mr. Bateham thought this variety was becoming more popular than had formerly been expected; though not a first-rate grape in quality, its merits in other respects were sufficient to gain for it the good will of the people.

Mr. Smith, of Toledo, said he had seen it rot badly in Montgomery county; when the Catawba also rotted badly. Captain Stewart said he served on a committee last fall for inspecting vineyards in Cuyahoga county, and while most other varieties were found more or less affected with rot, the Concord was free and healthy.

TAYLOR'S BULLITT.-Dr. Taylor said this variety had done so much better with him this year that he felt inclined to speak more favorably of it than he had done formerly. It may prove valuable, especially as a wine grape.

OPORTO.-Specimens exhibited and tasted by some! who expressed their utter dis

gust and surprise that such a grape should ever be recommended to the public. It was thought to be too mean a fruit for even the possibility of making wine that could be palatable.

ROGERS' HYBRIDS.-Specimens of several varieties exhibited, from Mr. Campbell's collection. Mr. Bateham said he was willing to award much praise to Mr. Rogers for having shown that our native grapes can be crossed with foreign sorts, but he regret ted that Mr. R. should have felt it necessary to choose the coarse Fox grape and Black Hanburg as the parent of his batch of nurslings. The progeny is certainly as good as could have been expected, but he was apprehensive that people will be dis appointed in not finding the fruit of finer quality. Perhaps, however, Mr. Rogers has better things in store than have yet been given to the public.

Mr. Campbell, at the request of the Secretary, furnishes the following notes on these grapes: "I think some of the hybrids of Mr. Rogers promise to be real and valuable acquisitions, though my experience with them is not yet sufficient to be entirely satisfactory on all points. The present is the third year since I have fruited a portion of them. I have never given them any winter protection, and though the past four winters have not been of extraordinary severity, these hybrids have all proven hardy and uninjured. They are all strong growers-some of them extraordinarily so. None have thus far shown any disposition to rot, and but one-No. 13-any signs of oidium, or mildew of the leaf, and this to no apparently injurious extent. As to quality, none of them equal the Delaware, or approach near it, so far as I have at present tested them. But I regard Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9, 15, 19, and 33 as superior in flavor and quality to Isabella and Concord, while they are, most of them, also much superior in size and appearance to those varieties. As to their productiveness, I do not consider that sufficiently tested, though the indications are so far good. To most persons who have tasted these hybrids in my presence, they have been very acceptable, and regarded as very valuable and good."

PEACHES.

The show of peaches at the Fair was not very large, the crop being light, or a failure in most parts of the State. Among the lots shown, were only three or four sorts not well known.

Dr. Taylor had a fine dish labeled “Middleton's Imperial." The tree came from New Jersey, and was sold to him under that name; but he finds no such name in any of the books or catalogues. It is a large handsome yellow peach, ripening early in September, about the season of Crawford's Late; not as highly colored as that variety, but like it apparently not sufficiently productive for a good market variety. Dr. T. thinks it may prove to be the Susquehanna or Griffith peach of Pennsylvania, which it certainly resembles.

Mr. E. Corner, of Columbus, exhibited a dish of highly colored peaches, supposed to be a seedling variety-resembling Bergen's Yellow-large roundish, deep yellow, nearly covered with red; flesh very yellow, juicy and good-sweeter and more juicy than most yellow flesh varieties; ripens between Crawford's Early and C. Late; said

« PreviousContinue »