DOMESTIC AOTICES. 



contributors exceeded those of all previous ex- 

 hibitions. Hon. Edward A. Newton, of Pitts- 

 field, presented specimens of eleven varieties of 

 pears, grown to perfection on his unfavorable 

 soil in Pittsfield. Gen. William Williams, Judge 

 Byington, and G. P. R. James, of Stockbridgc, 

 Hon. Asahcl Foote, of Williamstown, and oth- 

 ers from different Societies, presented specimens 

 wliich give assurance that the choice varieties 

 of this delicious fruit can be successfully culti- 

 vated in our hill country. 



The show of apples, among which were the 

 Baldwin, Northern Spy, and many other choice 

 varieties, was more varied, and all that would 

 be anticipated in a region where fruit culture is 

 yet in comparative infancy. We say in its in- 

 fancy ; we have many old orchards, in some of 

 which valuable fruit is to be found, yet the idea 

 has been too prevalent, that good fruit could 

 not be successfully raised on our old and too 

 much exhausted soil. But the exhibitions of 

 the two last years, are doing away these im- 

 pressions, and in consequence new orchards are 

 springing up every where. 



Plums were exhibited from some half a dozen 

 towns. The varieties were numerous, and the 

 specimens all fine. We had seedling peaches, 

 too, such as would make the mouth of a Jersey- 

 man water, in rich abundance. 



Premiums on pears were awarded to Hon. 

 Edward A. Newton, Pittsfield; William Wil- 

 liams, Stockbridge; William G. Backus, Pitts- 

 field; Edward C. Carter, Stockbridge. On 

 winter apples, to Judge Byington, Edward C. 

 Carter, D. R. Williams and Isaac Bassett. On 

 fall apples, to D. F. Goodrich, Mrs. Jane Sedg- 

 Avick, William G. Backus. On peaches, to 

 William Williams, Mrs. Hamlin of Sheffield, 

 and Thomas Wells of Stockbridge. On plums, 

 to Edward A. Newton of Pittsfield, Samuel 

 Goodrich of Stockbridge, and Asahel Foote of 

 Williamstown. On garden vegetables, to D. F. 

 Goodrich of Stockbridge, Graham C. Root of 

 Sheffield, and R. A. Galpin of Stockbridge. 



The premiums on flowers, were, to Mrs. 

 James Bradford of Sheffield, for a fine display 

 of (27 varieties) Dahlias. On cut flowers, to 

 Mrs. Whitney of Stockbridge, Miss Susan 

 Pomeroy of Stockbridge and Mrs. Sarah L. 

 of Richmond . On verbenas and German 

 to Miss Elizabeth Spaulding of Stock- 



bridge. A second premium on asters to Mrs 

 Mary Goodwin of Stockbridge, and one on 

 Dahlias to Mrs. Root of Sheffield. 



An interesting and poetical address was given 

 by the Hon. G. P. R. James, and the zeal and 

 good feeling brought out by the occasion gave 

 good assurance that old Berkshire, among the 

 first to excite emulation by her cattle shows and 

 fairs, is determined, though her mountains are 

 cold and her soil hard, not to be the last nor 

 the least in her horticultural achievements. 

 W. Bacon. Richmond, Oct. 1851. 



Oswego Hort. Society. — The September 

 E.xhibition of this society was held on the 11th, 

 at the City Hall. The display of fruits much 

 exceeded any former one, in quality and variety. 

 Among the peaches worthy of note, was a bas- 

 ket presented by Mr. J. McNair— the fruit of 

 very large size — melting, and very juicy, with 

 sprightly flavor, and a remarkably thin white 

 skin, which I am unable to identify with any of 

 the sorts described in books. The character of 

 the leaf (serrated) induces me to suppose it is 

 the Sweetwater, described by Thomas. It is 

 among our earliest peaches, but too good to 

 belong to the Early Ann or Nutmeg family. 

 The tree is now upwards of 30 j'ears old — pro- 

 duced its largest crop this year, and is yet in 

 full vigor. The variety is extremely difficult 

 to propagate from buds. Can you inform us 

 what it is ? [No doubt the Sweetwater.] 



Mr. WoRDEN presented seven good varieties, 

 among them. White Imperial, Large Early 

 York, and Red Rareripe — the last grown on 

 trees 3.5 years old. Mr. C. S. Phelps, seven 

 varieties — George 4th, Grosse Mignonne, and 

 orhers; the Rec. Sec'y, 10 varieties, of wliich 

 the Early York and Bergen's Yellow were the 

 finest. Among them were a doz. of the Mal- 

 ta — the "spurious sort" — as the leaves have 

 glands. The trees were grown on Long Island, 

 and planted here in the spring of '46. Now, as 

 this is not the true Malta, but yet a large fine 

 fruit, and withal pretty widely disseminated, 

 can you tell me what it is ? 



Of Pears, the best varieties were Bartlett and 

 Dearborn's Seedling. These, with some fine 

 specimens of Stevens' Genesee, from the garden 

 of Mr. Phelps, were about the only k 

 merit sufficiently mature for eating. Mr 



