FRUIT committee's REPORT. 9 



to protect it from disease. For all small gardens we would advise the 

 planting of dwarf Apples, at least of the early varieties, for family 

 use, until the winter kinds can be pi^rchased in quantity at low rates. 



The first Exhibition of Apples was on the 8th of August, at which 

 time there was a good display of the early standard kinds, the Harvest, 

 Eiver, Astrachmi and Williams. From tliis time, throughout the season, 

 and especially at the Annual Exhibition, the display was extensive and 

 excellent in quality. Williams Avas first for summer, Gravenstein was 

 first for fall, and Northern Sp}' was first for winter. The excellence in 

 quality, and the superior specimens of the Spy overcame its low point 

 of unproductiveness and other undesirable habits for general culture. 

 Specimens of Grimes' Golden Pippen were exhibited December 5th, 

 which were of fine api)earance, and the quality was very agreeable. 

 We regard it as promising. 



The Grape. — All will agree that the season has been extremely 

 uhpropitious for this crop. Still we have had a fair exhibition of this 

 fruit on our tables, and many fields have yielded a moderate return, 

 from the more hardy varieties. Some marked instances of success have 

 been noticed. Messrs. Davis & Bates, and also Mr. S. G. Damon, 

 have exhibited fine collections, including the more tender and ditficult 

 varieties, illustrating the advantage of close fences for protection. The 

 Grape does not fiourish with that spontaneity that Ave notice on the 

 shores of Lake Erie, or the Ohio River. We do not i^roj^ose to compete, 

 Avhen Ave receive Grapes from the West Avhich are sold at the rate of 

 SlOO to $160 per ton, as has been the case in the Boston market this fall. 

 Xeither is there any occasion. Our fruit is generally in better condition 

 for retiuling; it comes to the market before the heaA'y glut from the 

 West comes on, and the loAvest price, the past autumn, has been $12 per 

 100 lbs. at wholesale, for Concords of fair quality. This result has been 

 attained when the season has been ijrecisely the reverse, at the West, 

 and unusually favorable for the Grape. We may say again, in view of 

 these facts, there is no reason for discouragement. There is need of care 

 and judgment, but we do not adnnt less confidence than in former years. 

 With varieties we must exercise extreme caution. 



On the 11th of September the first Grapes Avere exhibited, Daniel 

 Clark shoAving a A^ery fine dish of Concords, as before noticed. Their 

 early maturity Avas undoubtedl}- owing to the radiated heat of the rocks 

 OA^er Avhich they Avere trained. Gen. George H. Gordon of Framingham 

 exhibited, on this day, very fine clusters of ripe Grapes, calling for a 

 name. They resembled the Hartford, but Avere very superior, if, in 

 reality, they Avere Hartfords. The majority of your Committee do not 

 entertain a doubt that the Framingham, so called, is identical Avith the 

 Hartford, or else a seedling, so closely resembling its parent in quality 

 and habits as to be undeserving a separate name. The exhibition of 



