386 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and beautiful, and showing evidences of taste and care 

 in all directions. 



The year 1873 was a cold one, nine out of the twelve 

 months being below the average temperature. The 

 month of December, 1872, which may properly be 

 taken into account here, was the coldest since 1837, the 

 mercury on Christmas Day falling to 10 below zero. 

 On the morning of January 30, 1873, it fell to 15 

 below zero, rising the next day to 15 above. On the 

 3d of May snow fell to the depth of two inches. 

 No injury was done to the fruit crop by these vicissi- 

 tudes, except that the fruit buds of the peach were, in 

 most places, wholly killed. The spring was generally 

 cold and backward, with drought, commencing the latter 

 part of May, of such severity as is rarely experienced so 

 early in the season. The effect of the drought on the 

 crop of strawberries was most disastrous, reducing it, as 

 was thought, about one-half. From the same cause, the 

 cut flowers, which had always been a prominent feature 

 of the exhibitions, were much below the usual standard. 



The Flower Committee reported that the exhibitions 

 in the early part of the year were of unusual interest, 

 owing partly to the meetings for discussion, which largely 

 increased the attendance, and encouraged growers to 

 bring their plants and flowers for exhibition. The 

 special azalea exhibition was much more successful than 

 the previous year. The collections of spring herbaceous 

 plants exhibited by E. S. Eand, jun., and James McTear, 

 were uncommonly large and beautiful. E. H. Hitch- 

 ings exhibited an exceedingly interesting collection of 

 native plants, comprising, besides others, nine species 

 of violets. At the rose show all the roses were unu- 

 sually fine. The Hunnewell special prizes for the best 



