426 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and sixty-three, apples two hundred and fourteen, and 

 grapes eighteen, making a total of one thousand and 

 ninety-five dishes. The committee were surprised to 

 find the number of dishes of pears from Massachusetts 

 greater than from all the other States together, afford- 

 ing new proof that no part of our country is more 

 favorable for the growth of this fruit than eastern 

 Massachusetts. They congratulated the Society and the 

 State on the commendable exhibit they made in the 

 great exposition, showing the very deep interest felt in 

 pomology, and particularly in the growth of the pear, 

 and entertained no doubt that the show of apples would 

 have been hardly less extensive than that of pears, had 

 the western part of the State contributed as liberally as 

 the eastern, where the apple is not so extensively culti- 

 vated. As an exposition of the pomological products 

 of the State, the committee felt that the part taken by 

 the Society resulted in bringing out a much greater 

 show than would probably have been gathered without 

 its aid. Awards were made by the Centennial Commis- 

 sion to the Society for a large collection of apples, and 

 another of pears, and the same to the Worcester Horti- 

 cultural Society. Awards were also made to many of 

 the individuals contributing fruit. 



In 1877 the Flower Committee reported that the 

 interest in the impromptu exhibitions during the winter 

 seemed to increase with each season, and that some of 

 the choicest floral productions were thus presented. 

 The show on the 3d of March was held in the upper 

 hall ; and, though anticipation had been highly raised 

 in regard to it, the reality far surpassed expectation. 

 Perhaps the most remarkable portion was the superb 

 collection of cyclamens, from C. B. Gardiner, which 



