174 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAI. SOCIETY. 



much that the poor show of fruit in June was almost destroj^ed, 

 and hardly vitahty enough remained in the leaves to ripen the fruit, 

 although they were not killed by the frost until about the first of 

 November. Some varieties have been and are more subject to 

 mildew than other varieties ; the leaves of all h3'brids have been 

 more injured than the native kinds. Why should it not be so? Is 

 it not in accordance with the laws of reproduction that the defects 

 of the parent will be transmitted to the progeny? 



The hybrids are crosses between the foreign and native species ; 

 the foreign has two serious faults in our climate ; one is a tender- 

 ness of the vine itself; the other a tendency to mildew on the 

 foliage, and also on the fruit. When a vine is so affected as to 

 drop nearly all its leaves in August, there is not only a loss of the 

 crop of fruit for that 3'ear, but the vine receives such a shock that 

 it will hardly be strong enough to withstand the rigor of a Massa- 

 chusetts winter — much more to produce a crop the succeeding year. 

 The laws of breeding plants, as well as animals, show that like pro- 

 duces like in the vegetable as well as in the animal kingdom, — 

 modified somewhat by outside influences in both. 



No new varieties, not before exhibited, have been shown. James 

 H. Ricketts, of Newburg, N. Y., presented some of his new seed- 

 lings of the same varieties that have been heretofore exhibited. 

 They were not quite as good as he has shown here before, but this 

 was very likely owing to the unfavorable season. 



There was no competition for bunches of foreign grapes, weigh- 

 ing not less than five pounds. For the other prizes there was a 

 fair display, but nothing of unusual merit. 



The Committee recommend to the Societ}^ that all small fruits, 

 exhibited for prizes or gratuities, shall be shown in baskets not 

 exceeding an inch and three-quarters in depth, and corresponding in 

 form to a model to be adopted by the Society. The objects which it 

 is believed will be attained by this rule are the following : First, 

 exactness and uniformity in quantity, as required by the Schedule. 

 Second, the Committee would be able to see nearly all the fruit in 

 the basket, and could judge more fairly and exactly. Third, a 

 more uniform appearance of the tables. 



The appropriation for the year 1878 was $1,425; the amount 

 awarded in prizes and gratuities was $1,225 ; leaving a balance of 

 $200. 



