44 ANNUAL REPORT. 
- - Grapes. 
Grapes were immature for the most part, and showed the want of sun- 
shine. Seedlings were quite abundant, those of J. H. Ricketts, of New- 
burg, N. Y, deserving the most attention. 
Peaches and Blackberries. 
Peaches in great variety, blackberries enormous in size, presenting a 
temptation to handle and taste hardly to be resisted, and a collection of 
semi-tropical fruits, including oranges, lemons, pomegranates, bananas 
figs, pineapples, &c. 
Discussions. 
It was a rare treat to hear those solons of pomology discuss the merits 
of the different fruits. The cataloguing of fruits was one of the best fea- 
tures of the convention. It gave every one the benefit of the Society’s 
experience in a nutshell. Each variety had its poor as well as its good 
qualities ventilated. There were but few varieties recommended for trial, 
adapted to this climate. One new variety, the Wealthy, was considered 
worthy of general cultivation. ' 
Awards. 
The committee on award of the Wilder medal, reported the collection of 
fruits was much better than had been expected, and recommended the 
awards as follows: 1st, Michigan State Horticultural Society, for the 
splendid display made by the different horticultural associations of the 
State. 2d, Iowa State Horticultural Society, for collection of apples beau- 
tifully displayed by Mr. James Smith, of Des Moines. 3d, Wisconsin 
State Horticultural Society, for geueral collection of fruit. 4th, Nebraska 
State Horticultural Society, for collection of apples. To the following in- 
dividual collections: John Saul, Washington, D. C., for pears; Elwanger 
& Barry, Rochester, N. Y., for pears and for plums; E. Moody & Son, 
Lockport, New York, for general collection; J. H. Ricketts, Newburg, N. 
Y., for a large collection of seedling grapes of great promise; Isidor Bush 
& Son and Masner, of Basherry, Mo., for a collection of native grapes; D. 
Redmond, Ocean Springs, Miss., for an interesting collection of semi- 
tropical fruits; Edward Daniels, Ganston Hall, Va., for pears and grapes; 
A. Fahnestock, Toledo, Ohio, for pears; Fand. L. Clapp, Dorchester, Mass., 
for seedling pears and a fine dish of ‘‘ Clapp’s Favorite;” J. W. Manning, 
Reading, Mass., for pears; Hovey & Co., Cambridge, Mass., for pears; 
S.E. Chamberlain, Waterford, Va., for apples; B. S. Fox, San Jose, Cali- 
fornia, for seedling pears. 
Resolutions. 
Resolutions were passed designating Baltimore as the place for the bien- 
nial meeting of the Society in 1877. Also a resolution, by W. C Flagg, 
denouncing the present postal law relating to third class matter, declaring 
it a nuisance and urging its repeal. 
