338 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Forced peaches and grapes were shown in great abun- 

 dance. C. S. Holbrook exhibited on the 28th of May 

 some of the finest Crawford's Early peaches that had 

 ever been seen on the tables. In spite of the drought, 

 a few good strawberries were shown : a basket of Hov- 

 ey's Seedlings at the rose show, from Mrs. T. W. Ward, 

 were of remarkable size and color ; and several new 

 European varieties were exhibited by William Gray, 

 jun., and Hovey & Co. The last-named gentlemen 

 had for several years been zealous in testing every 

 new variety of this fruit, especially the large English, 

 French, and Belgian sorts. Of currants, the Versaillaise 

 had become prominent on the tables, though the Red 

 and White Dutch were still favorite varieties for gen- 

 eral cultivation. The season, except on very dry soils, 

 was remarkably favorable for native grapes, which con- 

 tinued to attract much attention throughout the country. 

 On the 19th of November there was exhibited a 

 Duchesse d'Angouleme pear, grown by Charles Hova of 

 Los Angeles, Cal., seventeen and three-fourths inches 

 in circumference, and eight inches in length, and weigh- 

 ing four pounds, the largest pear of which the Soci- 

 ety has any record. 



The annual exhibition was held September 20-23, at 

 Andrews Hall in Central Court, the use of this room 

 having been freely offered to the Society by the pro- 

 prietor. The arrangement adopted was similar to that in 

 the Music Hall. The centre table, filled with plants, 

 presented a very beautiful appearance, the numerous 

 variegated plants and ferns being backed by tall and 

 handsome plants of various kinds. Large yuccas, palms, 

 and choice evergreens in pots on the stage, formed an 

 effective background for tables on which were placed 



