378 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



who exhibited forty-two kinds never before shown, 

 many of them possessing much merit, but not of such 

 superior excellence as to supersede the old standards. 

 A most extraordinary cluster of Beurre d'Anjous was 

 sent from California by F. D. Atherton. Other varie- 

 ties exhibited from California, notably the Seckel and 

 Dana's Hovey, were found to have attained in that 

 warm and dry climate a sweetness unknown here, 

 though at the loss of the fine aroma and flavor which 

 mark our best varieties. 



The crop of native grapes was most abundant, and 

 under the warm, dry weather which prevailed until Sep- 

 tember, gave promise of excellent quality ; and it was 

 hoped that the two previous seasons, so favorable to this 

 fruit, were to be followed by another equally propitious ; 

 but these hopes were disappointed by severe frosts. 

 Yet the display at the annual exhibition, though not 

 equal to that of the previous year, was satisfactory. A 

 very striking feature was the number of new seedlings 

 shown, J. B. Moore exhibiting fifty-two. A collection 

 of hybrids from Dr. A. P. Wylie of Chester. S.C., was 

 placed on the tables by Marshall P. Wilder. Several 

 hybrids were shown by N. B. White. The Eumelan 

 continued to make a favorable impression ; but the Isra- 

 ella had disappointed expectations. Two new foreign 

 grapes, the Madresfield Court Muscat and Royal Ascot, 

 were shown by Hovey & Co. 



The Committee on Vegetables reported continued 

 improvement in that department. At one of the earlier 

 exhibitions Fearing Burr made a very interesting dis- 

 play of dandelions, the French Large-leaved, French 

 Thick-leaved, Red-seeded, and the American Improved, 

 the last being preferred. Fine samples of the early 



