FRUIT committee's REPORT. 49 



called upon to caution the public against them unless they desire a very 

 bad grape ; one that is so foxy and hard as scarcely to be eatable. A few 

 Diana, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, and other grapes, were shown, of very 

 satisfactory appearance. 



Allen's Hybrid and Allen's No. 13 were on exhibition several times, and 

 were tested by your Committee. 



The former is a grape of the best quality, and said to be hardy. If such 

 should prove to be the case, and our seasons will allow of its ripening, it 

 must be a valuable sort. Of the No. 13, we cannot say as much in praise, 

 though time may prove it to be equally valuable. A grape was sent to the 

 Society called the Ontario, but your Committee believe it to be identical 

 with Union Village. It is evident that the cultivation of hardy grapes in 

 this State has thus far been nearly or quite a failure ; and yet every year 

 there are new varieties announced that are superior to all others, the best 

 grape in the world, and to be just what the public need, which, after a fair 

 trial, prove to be no better, if as good as the old and well-known varieties. 

 There is a broad field open for experiment in this direction, and he who 

 will produce a good grape, that will ripen every year, will prove a true 

 benefactor. The grape is a luxury which the people should have within 

 their reach, for any one who has a square yard of ground can plant a grape 

 vine, and had better do so, if a variety can be found that will ripen. 



APPLES. 



The past year has been one of great fruitfulness, and the apple has 

 yielded its fruit in great abundance. It has been the bearing year with 

 the Baldwin, a variety which is largely cultivated in this region. The 

 display of apples of all kinds, at the weekly exhibitions and at the Annual 

 Show, has never been surpassed, if equalled. The tables at the Music 

 Hall were loaded to their fullest capacity, and yet there was not room for 

 all the fruit, and especially for the apples that were brought in. Among 

 the newer kinds the Primate, Gravenstein and Washington hold high rank. 

 The list of apples is very large, and yearly increasing. The Pomological 

 Society should condemn and entirely discard many of the poorer sorts. 



PEARS. 



The crop of this fruit has been remarkably large this year. Never, in 

 the history of the country, have pears sold so low in Boston market as 

 during the month of September of this year. Bartlett pears, of good 

 quality, sold as low as two dollars per bushel, while those of inferior 

 quality sold at a still lower rate. This may not be the case again for 

 many years. It is desirable to have the price reasonably low, so that the 

 people may buy and eat of this fruit. The varieties of pears are so numer- 

 ous that a novice is lost in wonder and bewilderment when he takes up the 

 Catalogues of our nurserymen to select a dozen or two trees for his own 

 garden. The question is often asked, what varieties shall we raise ? One 

 of our intelligent cultivators will answer, plant for six varieties, Bartlett, 

 Seckel, Beurr6 Bosc, Fulton, Winter Nelis, and Buffum. Another would 

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