76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



succeeded by the excessive cold of January 10th and 11th, as in the case 

 of trees, shrubs and vines ; while in others, as in the instances of injury to 

 strawberries, and plants of a similar character, it was more probably the 

 result of the ice with which they were so completely and for so long a time 

 covered — for it was observed that where strawberry beds on level ground, 

 and upon which the ice thus lay, were destroyed ; those immediately con- 

 tiguous, but on sloping ground, were comparatively uninjured. 



As a compensation for its other unpropitious features, the character of 

 the summer may be considered as peculiarly favorable to the growth of 

 trees, this having been unusually strong and vigorous — the consequence, 

 perhaps, of a temperature more than commonly equable and temperate, free 

 from great and sudden alternations, giving, as is hoped, should no untoward 

 events intervene, promise of fruitful seasons hereafter. Late in the season, 

 in some instances, the pear trees became infested with that pest to gar- 

 deners, the red spider — to the serious damage of the foliage, and consequent 

 injury to the fruit. 



The weekly exhibitions of the Society have been continued as heretofore 

 through the year ; and, considering the character of the season, were such 

 as to do credit to the exhibitors. Some of the earlier fruits, as strawberries 

 and summer pears, were, perhaps, not quite equal in quality or quantity to 

 those of previous years ; yet any deficiency in either respect was more than 

 supplied by the greater than usual superiority of others ; plums being 

 shown of remarkably fine quality by many exhibitors, in greater variety and 

 quantity than had been the case for a long time before. 



The Annual Exhibition of the Society was held in the Music Hall, and 

 both in the quality and quantity of the fruit fully equalled the expectations 

 of the most sanguine, and by its success fully justified, what by some was 

 deemed a hazardous experiment, the attempt to make it so extensive ; for 

 neither the frosts and unpropitious weather of the summer, or the recent 

 violent storms, seemed here to have left any traceable marks of their 

 ravages. The only deficiency noticeable was of peaches, but of other fruits 

 the display was, in general, fully up to the average of previous years, and 

 the only drawback from its entire success was the weather, that for the 

 whole week was very unfavorable. 



Of forced fruits the quantity and number of exhibitors in the earlier part 

 of the year were, perhaps, somewhat less than at the exhibitions of the 

 same period in the previous year ; while later in the season this diminution, 

 if it existed, was entirely overcome. In the quality of the specimens, how- 

 ever, there was not at any time any falling off — many of these being very 

 superior. Peaches were particularly fine. Specimens of the early and 

 late Crawford, George 4th, and Coolidge's Favorite, were never surpassed at 

 any of the previous Exhibitions of the Society, and have rarely, if ever, 

 been equalled. Some Shanghai peaches, shown on Sept. 3, were very re- 

 markable for size and beauty, and attracted much attention. The exhibi- 

 tion of grapes, both in number of varieties and quality of the fruit, compares 

 favorably with those of past years. No new kinds calling for particular 

 mention were observed. Mr. Allen finds his new hybrid particularly well 



