THE SEASON OF 1861. d25 



the Fruit Committee are the Clapp's Favorite pear, which 

 they speak of as " truly one of the most promising 

 varieties that had come before them," and the Mount 

 Vernon, orginated by Samuel Walker. 



The Garden Committee reported that, in the discharge 

 of their duties, they had visited a greater number of 

 places than the committee of previous years. These 

 included Mount Auburn and Woodlawn cemeteries, 

 and several greenhouses and fruit and flower gardens. 

 Special mention was made of the orchard house of 

 Gardner G. Hubbard at Cambridge, the only one in the 

 State ; and a gratuity was awarded for it. Cherries, 

 pears, grapes, apricots, peaches, and nectarines, were 

 cultivated in it ; but the observations of the committee 

 led them to believe that it was best adapted to the 

 growth of fine peaches. 



The year 1861, so memorable for the beginning of 

 the terrible four years' civil war, was memorable in the 

 annals of horticulture as one of the most unfavorable 

 ever known. On the morning of February 8, the 

 thermometer, which at noon on the day previous stood 

 at 40, marked 21 below zero, and this in a sheltered 

 situation in a town ; while in some places in the open 

 country it was reported as several degrees lower. This 

 was probably as great a degree of cold as was ever expe- 

 rienced in the vicinity of Boston, if not the greatest. On 

 the 3d of March the thermometer rose to 75; but this 

 unseasonable heat was, like the extreme cold, of short 

 duration. On the 18th of March the mercury fell to zero. 

 Not only was the fruit crop entirely destroyed in many 

 places, but the trees, especially the cherry and peach, 

 were killed, or severely injured. The blossom buds of 

 that hardy fruit the currant were in a great measure 



