COLLECTIONS OF PEARS. 341 



and to those who filled the same positions for shorter 

 terms, and also to those associated with them on the 

 various committees, the Society is much indebted for 

 the success of the exhibitions during the period under 

 consideration. It should be remembered, that, during 

 this time, the amount appropriated for premiums was 

 increased from $1,200 in 1845 to $2,800 in 1864 (not 

 including the prospective prizes), and this notwith- 

 standing the depression caused by the civil war, and 

 the fact, that, in the last two years of this period, the 

 resources of the Society were taxed to the utmost by 

 the erection of their new building. 



In closing this chapter we cannot but glance back 

 over the twenty years reviewed ; and although any sum- 

 mary of it would be out of place, for the chapter itself 

 is but a summary of the fuller records in the Trans- 

 actions of the Society, the Magazine of Horticulture, and 

 the Horticulturist, it may not be unprofitable to recall a 

 few of the more prominent points in the progress of 

 the Society. In reviewing the last chapter, we spoke 

 of the interest in the cultivation of the pear, as shown 

 by the zeal in collecting every variety ; and, though the 

 work of collection progressed during the time covered 

 by the present chapter, it will be seen that, towards 

 the close of the period, the culminating point as respects 

 numbers was reached, and that the work of selection 

 the only object of these immense collections had well 

 progressed ; and " select lists " might be found in every 

 horticultural publication. It was during this period 

 that two of our most valuable pears, the Dana's Hovey 

 and the Clapp's Favorite, were originated by members 

 of the Society, and first made known through its exhi- 

 bitions. The seedling pears raised by Mr. Dana were 



