THE CULTURE OF FRUITS. 301 



REPOKT. 



The committee to whom was referred the subject of change 

 of tune of holding the Annual Fairs would report that they 

 have heard the parties, and would recommend that the 



MarsJifield begin on the second Wednesday after the first 

 Monday of September ; the 



Hampshire, on the third Thursday after the first Monday 

 of September; the 



Hiiigham, on the fourth Tuesday after the first Monday 

 of September; the 



dliddlesex, on the fourth Wednesday after the first Monday 

 of September; the 



Deerfield Valley, on the third Thursday after the first INIon- 

 day of September. 



Horace P. Wakefield, for the Committee, 



Feb. 7, 1S78, 



The report was accepted and adopted. 



Messrs. Knowlton. Hadwen, and the Secretary were ap- 

 pointed as the committee on printing. 



Col. Wilder submitted the following 



REPORT ON FRUITS. 



BY MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



In accordance with the request of the Board, I have the 

 pleasure to submit the following Report. Althougli it has 

 been generally considered that the climate of Massachusetts 

 is somewhat unfavorable to the cultivation of fruits, except- 

 ing the apple, it is found that the enterprise and indomitable 

 perseverance of her sons compel her unfertile soil to yield 

 some of the finest fruits that are produced in any part of the 

 world ; and it is safe to say, that nowhere else in the Union 

 are finer specimens of the apple, the pear, the strawberry, 

 and occasionally other fruits, to be seen, than at the exhibi- 

 tions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. By the 

 enterprise and perseverance of the cultivators of Massachu- 



