VEGETABLES IN 1878. 441 



plates on the tables, all of them of fine quality. The 

 crop of pears was very much smaller than usual, but in 

 size and quality the specimens were fully up to the 

 average ; and there was sufficient competition for the 

 prizes to cause nearly all to be awarded. At the annual 

 exhibition three hundred and seventy-four dishes of 

 very large, smooth, handsome specimens, were shown. 

 Peaches were not plenty ; but many seedlings were ex- 

 hibited, yet few distinct from the old kinds. There was 

 a marked increase in the exhibition of plums, and many 

 of the specimens were of fine quality. The trees did 

 not appear to be so much affected with the black knot 

 as previously. 



The Vegetable Committee reported that the season 

 had been an unusually favorable one for the productions 

 of the kitchen garden. The crops were not only abun- 

 dant, but, with few exceptions, above the average in 

 quality. Seldom had finer or better grown specimens 

 been seen than those placed on the tables at the weekly 

 exhibitions. The committee noted with great pleasure 

 the gradual improvement in the quality of the vegetables 

 offered for their inspection from year to year, and were 

 led to infer that more attention than formerly was paid 

 to the selection of pure and reliable seed as the starting 

 point to success and profit. 



The exhibitions of forced vegetables from January to 

 April were meagre ; but from the azalea exhibition on 

 the 6th of April, to the annual in September, the weekly 

 shows were generally very fine. Very few imperfect 

 specimens were to be seen on the tables during the 

 entire season. Among new varieties was the Monarch 

 rhubarb, from John C. Hovey, which received the first 

 prize. A large number of new varieties of peas were 



