THE SEASON OF 1868. 355 



A frost on the first night of the exhibition prevented 

 some of the contributors from replenishing their stands 

 of cut flowers. 



The pears and apples were very large and handsome ; 

 but, owing to the wet and cool summer, the grapes were 

 inferior, though some Concords from Daniel Clark, the 

 finest ever seen, the bunches weighing sixteen and 

 seventeen ounces each, formed a notable exception. 

 The display of vegetables was in all respects good. 



The winter of 1867 and 1868 was more than usually 

 severe ; and in many places the Bartlett and other pear 

 trees were seriously injured, blackening and dying in 

 summer from the effects of the winter's cold. The 

 spring of 1868 was extraordinarily backward ; and on 

 the first of June it was thought that the grape crop 

 would not ripen. The whole period of the blossoming 

 of the apple, pear, peach, and cherry, was excessively 

 wet, and, in consequence, many varieties did not set a 

 sufficient quantity of fruit ; yet the profusion of blossom, 

 which was quite marked, especially of the apple, pre- 

 vented any serious lack. Seldom has there been a more 

 unfavorable season for the floral department. The cold 

 and wet spring was followed by excessive drought from 

 the first of July to the middle of August. On the 18th 

 of September a heavy frost completely killed all tender 

 plants ; and this was followed on the 1 7th of October by 

 a snow storm and black frost so severe as to kill even 

 chrysanthemums. Yet, notwithstanding all these ad- 

 verse circumstances,, the exhibitions at the Society's 

 rooms were generally good, doing even more credit to 

 the skilful horticulturists than in more favorable seasons. 



The prize for the best specimen plant at the opening 

 exhibition was awarded to H. H. Hunnewell, for a 



