SEASON OF 1874. 401 



shows, the exhibitions and discussions having exerted a* 

 mutually beneficial effect. The subject of petitioning 

 the Legislature for the enactment of laws to prevent 

 the multiplication of noxious insects was brought be- 

 fore the Society, and a committee was appointed, with 

 full powers to take that step if deemed advisable. 

 Though no action was ultimately taken, it is believed 

 that the agitation of the subject awakened attention and 

 was thus productive of good. 



The winter of 1873-74 was generally very mild, but 

 was followed by a cold and backward spring and a cool 

 summer ^ particularly August, which was remarkable for 

 its cold, damp nights, the thermometer falling on sev- 

 eral successive nights as low as from 48 to 52. This 

 very cool weather, with heavy dews, caused milcjew in 

 the grape vines, and the consequent failure, to a great 

 extent, of the grape crop in this and other New England 

 States. Even the Concord was in some places nearly 

 ruined, and everywhere much injured, by the . cold and 

 damp of July and August. But, though September was 

 colder than usual, October, and the first half of Novem- 

 ber, were remarkably pleasant, causing many kinds of 

 grapes to mature which would otherwise have been 

 entirely worthless. The peach buds were unhurt. 

 The floral department of the Society's exhibitions does 

 not appear to have suffered at all from the unseasona- 

 ble cold, though the schedule of prizes both for flowers 

 and fruit, being made out for an average season, did not 

 always harmonize with the facts ; but except the award 

 of rhododendron prizes, and the rose and strawberry 

 shows, no postponement was found necessary. 



The Flower Committee reported the exhibitions of 

 the year, especially those during the early months, as 



