REPORT 



OF THE COMiMITTEE ON HORTICtLTURE, 1867, 



The Committee on Horticulture respectfully report : 



That during the last year a creditable exhibiti'on of fruit, flow- 

 ers, and vegetables was held in the rooms of the Institute. Many 

 new and improved varieties of grapes, pears, apples, and vegeta- 

 bles were shown for the first time at this exhibition. The speci- 

 mens of fruit from Vineland, N. J., attracted much attention. 

 Duchesse d'Angouleme pears, weighing near two pounds, enor- 

 mous apples, and well-ripened grapes, were exhibited from that 

 newly-cultivated land, which is now so full of promise to the fruit 

 grower. 



We desire to see these exhibitions encouraged by the American 

 Institute. Boston, Philadelphia, and many other cities in the 

 Northern States give substantial aid to horticultural exhibitions, 

 which are held monthly, thereby encouraging a greater supply of 

 improved fruits and vegetables. 



The great importance of the subject to the inhabitants of this 

 city should awaken in our members a disposition to provide lib- 

 eral accommodations, so that the professional and amateur horti- 

 culturist may meet together to exhibit and compare the products 

 of the garden and orchard, and give to thousands of our citizens 

 an opportunity to see the new and progressive seedlings of fruit, 

 flowers, and vegetables, which have been produced by so much 

 science and skill. 



When a new fruit, flower, or vegetable is to be produced, an 

 expert, with a delicate camel's hair brush, transfers the minute 

 particles of the pollen of one flower to the pistil of the one that 

 is to become the parent of the new seedling. Thus the pollen of 

 the flower of the Black Hamburg grape is transferred to the pistil 

 of some of the flowers of a hardy and thrifty native grape, and 

 the result of this union is a hybrid grape, hardy and improved. 

 It is the result of these experiments that make our exhibitions 

 more deeply interesting and instructive. 



