1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 7 



Clairgeau he spoke of a.s an excellent fruit to show, but, like the 

 Wilson-Albany strawberry, not wortli the growing. For home 

 use a dozen varieties of pears should be grown. First, should be 

 the Bartlett for size, quality and productiveness, and second, the 

 Beurre d' Anjou ; but beyond, the list should be made up accord- 

 ing to the qualities of the soil on which it is to be grown. Peo- 

 ple are wofully misled by the appearance of fruit on the stands. 

 Bartletts and Beurre d' Anjous sliould be grown by professionals 

 and amateurs, hut beyond this the Society should determine what 

 can be grown with the best results, all things considered, lie 

 spoke of the process of keeping fruit by ammonia, as shown on 

 North street, Boston, where Beurre d' Anjous have been kept a 

 month longer than usnal, and sold for $6 a bushel, instead of 

 $1.50 as when sold at the usual time. The process by which the 

 ammonia is condensed and the cold air forced through the build- 

 ing was described, the cost being 12^ cents per bushel per month. 

 In exhibiting he believed that the purpose for wiiich these speci- 

 mens are intended should be considered, the awards not being 

 controlled by size or quality wholly, but by all requisites. The 

 standard should always be a liigh one, although seldom reached. 

 In judging pears, he did not believe in awarding the premiums 

 to those which weigh the most, unless, as seldom happens, there 

 is no other dift'crence. 



In judging Vegetables he said the rule should be, — if the larger 

 specimen of mangolds was symmetrical and round, it should take 

 the prize, but if the offer is for table beets, the size should be 

 only medium ; it should be smooth, free from small roots, &c. 

 In squashes size should not govern, but quality. A mammoth 

 may deserve a gratuity to pay for lugging it in. 



One good object in exhibitions is the elevation of the standard 

 and the bringing up the public to a higher standard. 



President Salisbury expressed the thanks of the Society for 

 Mr. Hyde's interesting remarks, and they were formally voted. 



