FRUIT committee's REPORT. 47 



has shown that Hovey's Seedling, with some varieties for impregnation, is 

 one of the very best sorts known. Jenny Lind and Brighton Pine are vari- 

 eties worthy of general cultivation. Some would include Boston Pine, 

 which is a fruit of high flavor, but not first-rate for market, as it does not 

 hold its color well. It is sometimes grown with Hovey's Seedling. The 

 strawberry crop is one of considerable importance around our large cities, 

 and the Society has been very liberal in offering premiums for this delicious 

 fruit. While so many new varieties are being brought forward, from year 

 to year, it becomes of the highest importance that every new variety should 

 be thoroughly tested and fully endorsed by some Horticultural Society be- 

 fore the public should venture to purchase very largely of it, unless they 

 are anxious to be cheated out of their money and labor. Of all the new 

 sorts that have been introduced within a few years, few stand the test for 

 this part of the country, while a host of such varieties as Peabody, Wil- 

 son's Albany, Richardson's Early, Late, and Cambridge, Scott's Seedling, 

 McAvoy's Superior, and many other American sorts, to say nothing of the 

 legion of foreign sorts, which have in almost every instance proved fail- 

 ures, have been or soon will be forgotten, as they deserve to be. There is 

 still room for improvement in this fruit, for the public very much want, 

 what it is feared they will not soon get, a variety which will combine the 

 size and color of the Hovey's Seedling, the flavor of Burr's New Pine, or 

 Boston Pine, the hardiness of the Wild Strawberry, and the productiveness 

 of the Wilson's Albany. The man who shall obtain such a sort may ven- 

 ture to introduce it with the fullest assurance that he will be richly rewarded. 

 We have read during the past year of sorts that promise all this, and per- 

 haps more, such as Feast's Fillmore, Great Austin Shaker Seedling-, Wiz- 

 ard of the North, Triomphe de Gand, and others that are already or soon 

 will be for sale. It will be well to try them on a small scale at first, for it is 

 very doubtful if they will all prove acquisitions. 



CHERRIES. 



The show of Cherries at the rooms was much better the past season than 

 the year previous. The Black Tartarian takes the lead for size and quality. 

 Black Eagle was as fine as usual. The Cumberland appeared very well. 

 The Downer is, perhaps, all things considered, one of the most valuable 

 sorts. It is grown extensively for market. 



RASPBERRIES. 



This fruit was produced this year in great perfection. The varieties 

 most extensively cultivated are Franconia, which is grown by market gar- 

 deners ; Knevett's Giant, which does not bear transportation as well as the 

 former variety, though a very much better fruit ; and the Brinckle's Orange, 

 which is very handsome and productive, but not a favorite with the market 

 flirmers. 



CURRANTS. 



A great many specimens of Currants were shown, and some of them of 

 very large s'ze. A new and very pretty currant, the Gloire of Sablons, 



