REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES, 1876. 423 



The season was favorable for native grapes, and the 

 exhibitions were very good. A dish of Concords shown 

 by Nathan Blanchard on the 7th of October was consid- 

 ered extra fine : the weight of six bunches was six 

 pounds and four ounces. Besides seedlings shown by 

 Messrs. Bull, Moore, and White, which have been 

 mentioned as exhibited in previous years, a very remark- 

 able collection of seedlings was exhibited by James H. 

 Ricketts of Newburgh, N.Y. It consisted of sixty-five 

 varieties, most of which were hybridized between a 

 foreign and a native variety, and the others between 

 two native varieties. Although their adaptation to the 

 climate of Massachusetts was doubtful, it was hoped 

 that some of them would prove hardy, and suited for 

 cultivation here. 



The Committee on Vegetables reported that the exhi- 

 bitions had been as a whole the best ever made in that 

 department. Many of the specimens approached near 

 the desired standard of excellence, and an increased 

 spirit of competition was shown, giving the fairest prom- 

 ise for the future. Much of the improvement noticed 

 in some of the leading varieties during this and several 

 preceding years was attributed to the increased appre- 

 ciation by cultivators of the importance of pure and 

 reliable seeds. Some of the finest prize specimens were 

 found in the collections of growers, who, by making 

 a specialty of some one vegetable, and by constant 

 care in the selection of seed, saving only from the ear- 

 liest and most perfect specimens, had improved it to 

 such an extent that it was sought foj from far and near ; 

 and any surplus commanded almost fabulous prices. 

 The display at the annual exhibition was pronounced 

 the best ever made : no part of the vegetable garden 



