REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 173 



from Messrs. Clapp, and from others, but not of such marked 

 excellence, so far as we can judge from the examination we have 

 been able to make, as to require, a further opinion or description, 

 except one raised by Stephen Osborne, of Peabody. This was 

 presented Ma}^ 25th, and is of medium size ; globular acute p^^ri- 

 form ; dull green, with much brownish russet, or sometimes entirely 

 covered with russet ; skin, thick ; flesh, gritt}', but sweet and juic}', 

 and remarkably meltiig and buttery for so late a pear. Among 

 the fine autumn varieties this would not be thought worthy of 

 attention, but keeping almost to June it appeared deserving of 

 notice. 



Peaches have not been plent}', and a less number of dishes 

 have been shown than usual, although there have been some very 

 fine specimens on our tables. Quite a number of dishes of seed- 

 ling peaches, some of tliem large and handsome, having a strong 

 resemblance to the Crawford's Early and Craw lord's Late, have been 

 shown, but none of them perhaps quite as good as either of those 

 standard varieties. 



Plums. — The last two years show a marked increase in the 

 number of dishes exhibited, and many of the specimens have been 

 of fine quality. The trees do not appear to be so much troubled 

 with the black wart as formerly, and there is a prospect of having 

 a reasonable crop of this fine fruit again. We would suggest to 

 persons, if the^^ have an enclosure in which fowls are confined, 

 and the ground is suitable in otiier respects, to plant it with plum 

 trees. In such a place the trees will grow well, and, when they 

 come to bear fruit, a jar or shake of the tree, at the proper time, 

 will cause the curculio to fall to the ground, and the}' will quickly 

 be destroyed by the fowls. 



Grapes. — There has been a ver}' small crop of grapes this sea- 

 son. For some reason grape vines did not show nearly as man}' 

 or as strong trusses of buds for blooming this year as usual. This 

 was not by any means confined to weak growing kinds, but the 

 Concords, and other strong growing varieties, which have almost 

 always set a great deal too much fruit, were as much affected as 

 any. Pruning had nothing to do with it, for whether the vines 

 were pruned closely or allowed to ramble it was all the same ; the 

 trusses of buds were poor and weak in the beginning, and did not 

 appear to have strength enough to set well. This was followed in 

 August by mildew, which injured the foliage of many varieties so 



