364 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



most interesting feature was the very large and superior 

 collections of potatoes ; and among these the centre of 

 attraction was six seedlings from Albert Bresee, the 

 originator of the Early Eose. This variety was found 

 in the smallest collections, and was thought by the com- 

 mittee, taking into consideration its many good qualities, 

 and the lengthened period to which it retains them, as a 

 table potato from very early in the season until the 

 time for planting again arrives, to be unrivalled by any 

 other variety. Mr. Bresee's success in originating so 

 many new and superior seedling potatoes had stimulated 

 other persons in various parts of the country to like 

 efforts. _ , 



The winter of 1869-70 was remarkable for uniform 

 mildness, the thermometer falling -to zero but once in 

 the vicinity of Boston ; so that the fruit buds were unin- 

 jured by cold. The spring and early part of the summer 

 were warm, with an excess of rain ; while the months 

 of July, August, and September, were above the average 

 in temperature, with but little rain; and the drought 

 was consequently severe, causing the premature falling 

 of leaves and fruit, and, in some cases, the shrivelling 

 of the wood of trees. Yet, notwithstanding this unfa- 

 vorable influence on fruits, flowers, and vegetables, the 

 shows were excellent in all these departments. 



The Flower Committee reported that they were 

 pleased to note a continuance of the lively interest 

 taken by the members in the raising of hybrid flowers 

 from seed, and mentioned as among the first triumphs 

 in this direction the carnations originated by J. F. C. 

 Hyde, president of the Society, which were more robust, 

 and flowered more abundantly, than varieties of Euro- 

 pean origin, and were also perfectly hardy. Other seed- 



