48 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



has been introduced from France. It is very small, acid, and valuable only 

 on account of its unique and pretty striped appearance. The Cherry Cur- 

 rant, which is extensively cultivated, is a very large, coarse, acid variety of 

 decidedly poor quality. It may do for a market fruit until it is more fully 

 known. La Caucase, Versaillaise, Red and White Grape, and many 

 other sorts have been shown, which appear well ; but, so far as your Commit- 

 tee can judge, the old sorts, Red and White Dutch, still maintain their 

 position at the top of the list. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



The exhibition of Gooseberries was very fine. Two or three contributed 

 English sorts grown to great perfection. Of the American varieties, 

 Houghton's Seedling and Mountain Seedling take the lead. The latter is 

 a new sort that originated among the Shakers at New Lebanon, New York, 

 and on account of its erect habit, great productiveness, good size, and free- 

 dom from mildew, promises to be a valuable acquisition, though the fruit is 

 not of the very highest quality. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



The display of this fruit has never been surpassed. Some two or three 

 contributors lead off with this fruit in a surprising ijaanner. The Dorches- 

 ter seems to be the favorite, while the Lawton is not extensively cultivated. 



PLUMS. 



A few contributors have shown fine specimens of this fruit. It is not 

 very extensively grown in this vicinity. 



PEACHES. 



The crop of peaches was good this year and some splendid specimens of 

 Coolidge's Favorite, Crawford's Early, and other well-known sorts were on 

 our tables. There is strong reason to believe that the peach is recovering 

 from its diseased condition, and that we shall again be able to raise peaches 

 as of old. We hope this may be the case, for no fruit is perhaps more de- 

 licious, while it may be eaten freely by sick and well without fear of inju- 

 rious consequences. 



GRAPES. 



The crop of Grapes this year has been almost an entire failure. It is 

 true there have been a few fine ones exhibited that were grown in particu- 

 larly favorable localities. But these cases are only exceptions to the gen- 

 eral fact. It is certain that we must have one of two things if we would 

 have ripe grapes, either longer and warmer seasons, a matter over which we 

 have no great control, or new varieties that will ripen earlier than those 

 now cultivated. We are obliged to go without grapes two years out of 

 three. Even the Concord, that is claimed to be ten days or a fortnight 

 earlier than the Isabella, did not as a general thing ripen this year. What 

 is true of this variety is true of all varieties of good quality. There were 

 some grapes shown at our rooms, by Mr. James Hill, as early as Septem- 

 ber first, but they were so outrageously poor that your Committee feel 



