REPORTS OP DELEGATES 357 



Any person having any doubts of tlie success of careful cul- 

 tivation, had only to look at the ditTerent collections of vege- 

 tables presented at Norwalk, when they would at once be 

 satisfied that the specimens were not the result of any careless 

 cultivation ; nor is it impossible to produce like results even 

 from field culture, although it would of course require a no 

 inconsiderable preparation of soil. 



Another matter of interest in potato culture, was the exhi- 

 bition of a large collection of seedlings, some of which exhib- 

 ited marks of merit. This is the mode of obtaining new and 

 valuable varieties, but what will be the effect upon the potato 

 after continued cultivation remains to be seen. It is thought 

 by some that in consequence of the special care given in the 

 production of new varieties, the general character of the po- 

 tato is so changed as to require constant care and nursing in 

 its after culture, or else deteriorated potatoes, will be the 

 result ; and as a proof of this is cited the case of the Early 

 Rose, which is a very excellent potato, but with the same care 

 and cultivation that was given to the ordinary kinds a few 

 years ago, not only the crop but the quality is greatly reduced. 

 If this should prove to be true, it will necessitate a change in 

 the 'production of seedlings or in the cultivation of the general 

 crop. 



Passing to the department of fruits and flowers, we were 

 very much gratified that notwithstanding the general impres- 

 sion of great scarcity of fruit, which is indeed true, we found 

 a good collection of different varieties of apples and pears. 

 Among the larger contributors could be seen the names of 

 Stephen Hoyt & Sons, who presented twenty-one varieties of 

 apples and fifty varieties of pears ; Joseph Kellogg, who also 

 exhibited twenty-one varieties of apples, and Charles B. 

 Gregory fifteen varieties, all of which were good collections. 



The collection 'of pears from the Messrs. Hoyt was very 

 fine, which is not surprising when it is considered that this 

 firm possesses an extensive nursery ; and here we may per- 

 haps be allowed to say that having had an opportunity of visit- 

 ing these grounds, we were surprised at the luxuriance of 

 growth of the young trees, as we observed some of two years 



