448 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



close of the preceding period of the Society's history, 

 the work of forming collections for the purpose of test- 

 ing varieties had culminated, and that of selection had 

 begun, and we may say, that, before the close of the 

 period embraced in the present chapter, this work was 

 substantially accomplished, and the attention of culti- 

 vators was ' turned to producing the finest possible speci- 

 mens of what had been ascertained to be the best 

 varieties. It should not, however, be understood that 

 the collection and testing of new varieties was aban- 

 doned, but rather that the occasion for the immense 

 collections of former times had ceased, and that the 

 work continued on a much less extensive, yet a suffi- 

 cient scale. Cultivators still persevered in the produc- 

 tion of new varieties by hybridization, or by planting 

 selected seeds in the hope of gaining kinds superior to 

 those already known, or of extending the season of fine 

 fruit ; and, while the old experimenters remained in the 

 field, others were added to their number. 



In the vegetable department the most important 

 advances were made in the more general production of 

 early forced vegetables and in the introduction of houses 

 heated by hot water as substitutes, to some extent, for 

 the hotbeds which had been previously the only means 

 used for this purpose. A gratifying improvement in 

 the culture of vegetables generally was noticed, as 

 shown by the specimens exhibited. This was aided by 

 the introduction and originating of improved varieties, 

 especially of the tomato, the various esculent roots, and, 

 above all, the potato. A pleasing advance was shown 

 by the fact that prizes for vegetables had come to be 

 awarded for the most perfect specimens, though they 

 might not be the largest : indeed, this was the case with 

 flowers and fruits also. 



