188 PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. Strong has the past season exhibited Grapes called Black Muscat or Damascus, with 

 large berries and very handsome ; it was a very good grape, though not of very first quality, 

 and on account of its size, beauty, and goodness worthy of cultivation. It was new to the 

 Committee. 



Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited on June 14th, and subsequently, a very fine and beautiful 

 Grape called Gros Bleu, that strongly resembled in appearance Wilmot's No. 16, but that 

 is said to be a distinct variety. 



Bromham Hall and Beech wood Melons, both of superior flavor and quality, but probably 

 not suited to out-door culture, have been exhibited the past season. For general out-door 

 cultivation the Seedling Melon of Capt. Lovett, called the " Christiana," raised by him 

 from a green Malta Melon, impregnated with a very early variety, it is believed has not 

 yet been equalled. In order to mark their appreciation of its merits and as their recom- 

 mendation of it to growers of this fruit, the Society have awarded Capt. L. a piece of plate 

 of the value of S50. 



No new Raspberry, Blackberry, Currant, or Gooseberry, especially worthy of notice has 

 been exhibited the past year. The Blackberry known as the cultivated High Bush 

 Blackberry, was the past season remarkable for size and beauty, and is thought to be well 

 worthy of cultivation ; and that these, with the Knevet's Giant Raspberry as well as the 

 Franconia, and perhaps Fastolf Raspberry, are worthy of a place in every garden. 



August 9th, Mr. Amos W. Stetson presented to your Committee a box of very early 

 Plums, that for one ripening so early, may be pronounced of very fine quality. Mr. 

 Stetson stated that this Plum was a seedling raised by John Trask^ of Lynn ; it was a small 

 oblong purple Plum of good flavor, a freestone. Aug. 16, the Myrobalan, a small round 

 red Plum, of pretty good quality, resembling in appearance the Golden Cherry, was 

 exhibited by Dr. Eben Wight. Although the past season was very prolific in Plums, and 

 these too produced in great perfecfion, but few opportunities have been afforded of testing 

 any new varieties of either foreign or native origin. 



This last remark is, however, in no ways applicable to Pears, of which fruit many new 

 varieties, fruited for the first or second time, have this year been exhibited. Among those 

 of native origin, may be mentioned a Pear from D. Marcellus Wheeler, said to a Seedling 

 from the St. Michael, resembling that variety in size, color and form, that was a juicy fruit 

 of pleasant flavor, and seemed to be of good promise ; also the Muskingum, from G. 

 Greene, of Norwich, Ct., a high flavoied, juicy, melting Pear, of medium size, roundish 

 form and yellow color, — both exhibited August 30. On October 4, Mr. John Hill exhibited 

 a Seedling Pear, small, of yellow color, with a red cheek, and some russet both at stem 

 and calyx, that was handsome and sweet ; it has been somefimes known as the Burrill 

 Pear. The Collins, or Watertown Pear, is a Seedling Pear, raised by Mr. Collins, of 

 Watertown, many years since, and has been now repeatedly tested by your Committee. 

 It is in size above a medium, of a roundish obovate form, with a short thick stem ; when 

 ripe, of a yellowish color, blotched and striped with red in the sun, with a little russet about 

 the stem ; the flesh is white, melting, juicy, a little subacid, of very pleasant flavor ; its 

 season is early in October. This Pear is believed to be well worthy the attention of 

 cultivators. Ripening at about the same season, October 1, is another Seedling Pear, raised 

 by Mr. Tudor, at Nahant. This also is a Pear of medium size, rather flattened, obovate 

 form, of a yellowish green color, tinged with blush, of a pleasant flavor, sweet and good, 

 subject, however, to the serious drawback of a liability to rot at the core. In addition to 

 the preceding, some few other Seedling Pears have been exhibited the past season, but as 

 no memoranda respecting them was preserved no attempt at a description of them can now 

 be made. The notice of the foregoing Pears, of native origin, has been somewhat detailed, 

 because, as such may yet prove better adapted to our climate and general cultivation than 

 those of foreign introduction, cultivators may desire early information of their quality. 



