298 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Various methods were described by the president and Messrs. Johnson, Jones, 

 Stebbins, and Mrs. Case, and on request of the president members agreed to try 

 them all, each selecting a particular method. 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW. 



Mr. Baker asked if it was desirable to permit the propagation of the English 

 sparrow in the country. 



Mr. Johnson said if they were going to chase away the other birds, as he 

 understood they did, he would rather do away with them. 



Prof. Beal said the students at the college wished to get some, and this led 

 them to seek information. They concluded that in cities their presence made 

 no particular difference, but in the country they were a nuisance. They eat a 

 great deal of corn and drive away other birds. He should be sorry to see 

 them introduced. 



Dr. Marshall said he had heard that they picked out the fruit buds, and Mr. 

 Baker made a similar report. 



WINTER FRUIT. 



The question, "Is early picking of apples, before fully matured, preferable 

 to picking after frost?" A general discussion of this question led to the 

 conclusion that early picking was the most profitable, placing the fruit in a 

 cool, dry place until the weather became too cool to keep it out of the cellar. 



FRUIT AND FLOWER EXHIBITS. 



Mr. Johnson exhibited some fine specimens of the Concord, Delaware, 

 Champion, Agawam, Lady grape, and other varieties. He spoke briefly of the 

 Champion, and thought it superior to the Hartford. The Agawam and the 

 Lady were good grapes. He would not recommend the Croton grape. They 

 are a weak growing vine, and the fruit is not equal to the Lady or the Martha. 

 The Lady ripens with the Delaware, and for eating there is nothing ahead of 

 it. The Brighton is a very excellent grape. The berry is white. The Martha 

 is green when ripe. 



Mr. Jones raised the Lady, Delaware, and Brighton, and the best grape he 

 knew of was the Brighton. Mr. Johnson said the Worden was next to the 

 Brighton. It was hardy and prolific. 



Mr. Stebbins presented fine specimens of the Isabella, Israella, Iona, 

 Concord, Kalamazoo, Delaware, and other varieties. The best grape he knew 

 of was the Iona. 



Dr. Marshall presented a variety of pears for a name. The fruit is large, 

 and grows in clusters. He purchased it for a dwarf Bartlett, but it was a 

 standard tree. 



Mr. Swift presented some pears and a grape for names. 



Mr. Gladden also presented pears and said he had supposed them to be 

 Flemish Beauties, but had found they were not. He also exhibited another 

 pear, picked from a little dwarf tree, which for size, shape, and beauty of 

 color excited the admiration of all, but they were unable to name it. 



Mrs. Stebbins sent a beautiful bouquet, and Mr. Johnson presented a choice 

 variety of flowers, heliotrope, tuberoses, fuchsias, tea roses, etc. 



