FRUITS IN 1850. 291 



hardy." July 6, L. C. Eaton of Providence, E.I., sent 

 twenty-six varieties of strawberries, which were tested 

 and reported on by the Fruit Committee. September 7, 

 a basket of the most beautiful nectarines ever placed 

 on the Society's tables was shown by Stephen H. Per- 

 kins. There were thirty specimens, averaging about 

 eight inches in circumference. They were the prod- 

 uce of some of the old trees set out by the late Sam- 

 uel G. Perkins, who introduced the variety (Lewis) 

 to notice, 1 and were exhibited by his son. September 

 28, John P. Gushing exhibited specimens of White 

 Doyenne, Gray Doyenne, Brown Beurre, and several 

 newer pears, from trees under glass, and on walls and as 

 espaliers and standards in the open air, all being finely 

 grown. Some of the varieties were cultivated in two 

 or three different forms. October 19, J. F. Allen showed 

 a very handsome Beurre Bosc pear, weighing twelve and 

 a quarter ounces, which was considered a very remark- 

 able specimen. The Flemish Beauty showed signs this 

 year of the blight which has since affected it. 



The annual exhibition was held in the hall of the 

 Society, supplemented by the library room and store 

 in the lower story ; the grapes and pears being arranged 

 on two long tables in the hall, and the apples, plums, 

 peaches, etc., with the vegetables below. Although the 

 fruit trees had blossomed profusely in the spring, a cold 

 easterly storm destroyed the greater part of the fruit, 

 and that which escaped was less fair and beautiful than 

 usual. Yet the number of growers and the quantity 

 produced was now so large, that, when the specimens 

 selected for the annual exhibition were placed on the 

 tables, the display was more extensive and choice than 



1 Ante, page 225. 



