74 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



attempts for this object, when the demand for them that exists, and the 

 quantities — particularly of the two former — that meet daily with a ready 

 sale in the market is considered ; and there is no reason why such should 

 not be as successful as in other cases of a similar character. Perhaps the 

 system of Dr. Van Mons, as it respects pears, that of cultivating for a time 

 the wild bushes, and when, by such cultivation, a disposition to vary or 

 change had been created in the fruit, the planting of seeds — applied to 

 these fruits — might produce favorable effects, and in the end result in the 

 production of new varieties far superior to any now known. 



The cultivation of Fruit has become an important interest, and whatever 

 will tend to its advancement or to an improvement of varieties should be 

 attempted ; and there is no species, however humble, that is unworthy of 

 efforts for this purpose, and none that will not repay them. 



To some observations on the different species of Fruit as exhibited, and 

 an account of their product for the past year, some statement respecting its 

 principal meteorological phenomena seems an almost necessary introduction? 

 and for this purpose the year is considered as commencing with the closing 

 months of the preceding year, rather than at the usual period ; as the lia- 

 bility of plants to injury from the winter, or their immunity from it, may in 

 a great measure depend upon their condition growing out of the character 

 of the autumn. 



The autumn of 1858 was warm and wet, tending to produce a late and 

 unseasonable growth in trees and plants, in the case of the latter, prolong- 

 ing it up to the occurrence of severe frost. Strawberry beds showed blossoms 

 for a second time, in some cases quite generally, and in some instances 

 setting fruit; and pear trees, too, flowered a second time to greater 

 extent, both in number and varieties, than had ever before been noticed. 

 Indeed, to such an extent was this the case, that as late as November 7th 

 some gardens might from this cause produce the impression of the opening 

 rather than the closing season of the year. 



The first frost, sufficient to kill the tender plants, for the season, Avas on 

 November 11th, when a very severe one occurred, freezing the ground, and 

 putting a stop to any further out-of-doors operations — that could not be 

 resumed, from its uninterrupted continuance, until the next spring. 



The winter, in its general character, may be represented as moderate and 

 wet, with not much snow. Although, for three successive days, from the 

 10th to the 12th of January, the mercury fell to below ; once, on the 11th, 

 to 14° or 15° below, and in very exposed situations, as reported, still lower ; 

 probably as great degrees of cold as is ever indicated by a correctly regis- 

 tered thermometer in this vicinity, yet on no other day did it fall below 6°. 

 The quantity of rain was greatly in excess, and upon falling, being imme- 

 diately frozen, the ground became thereby covered with a thick coating 

 of ice, and gardens and fields thus, in many cases, converted into skating 

 grounds, that so remained for a considerable period, to the serious injury of 

 their plants. 



The spring opened propitiously, with every indication of being early - 

 March was more mild than usual ; its favorable prognostics, however, soon 



