132 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Russell, M. W. Chadboiirne, and others. On June 27th and July 8th, 

 the exhibitions were unusully fine, and the different varieties shown 

 bore ample evidence of care and skill in their cultivation. July 15th, 

 some exceeding!}^ fine and well grown specimens of the Black Pekin 

 Egg Plant were exhibited b}^ James Bard, gardener to Harvey D. 

 Parker, who also showed fine specimens of Boston Market and 

 Canada Victor Tomatoes. 



The Emery Tomato, of which favorable mention was made in 

 our report for 1875, was again on exhibition during the past 

 season. It is a valuable acquisition, and bids fair, in the opinion 

 of your Committee, to rival man}' long established favorites. The 

 specimens of Pekin and Large Purple Egg Plant, shown at the ex- 

 hibition on the 12th of August, were the largest and most perfectly 

 grown your Committee have ever seen. The contributors were 

 George Hill, Josiah Crosby, Walter Russell, and George W. Pierce. 

 August 26th, and again at the Annual Exhibition, C. M. Atkinson 

 exhibited a tomato under the name of the " Kelly." It is a large, 

 smooth, solid, and remarkabty handsome variety. Mr. Atkinson 

 speaks very highly of its merits, and considers it superior to some 

 of the older sorts, and worthy of trial. 



Established varieties of potatoes have taken the lead this season 

 for nearl}'^ all the prizes at the Annual Show. No large collections 

 were on exhibition, and no new varieties, except a seedling from 

 L. W. Weston, which he enters for the Societ^^'s Prospective Prize. 

 No description of this seedling has been furnished your Committee. 



It has not escaped the attention of cultivators, that insects 

 destructive to vegetation are alarmingl}' on the increase. If we 

 may be allowed to judge from the experience of the past season, 

 ' ' eternal vigilance " is to be the price of potatoes next year. A 

 neighbor showed us his field the past summer, which was literally 

 alive with that new pest, the Colorado beetle, and, very naturallj', 

 inquired how to exterminate them. This is a question perhaps not 

 very easily answered, but it is one which every cultivator must 

 look squarel}' in the face, and it presents a wide and open field 

 for experiment. 



The display of vegetables at the Annual Exhibition was pro- 

 iiounced the ])est ever made. There was no part of the vegetable 

 garden left unrepresented at this season. Among the largest con- 

 tributors were Walter Russell, John Cummings, S. A. Merrill, and 

 Mrs. M. T. Goddard, whose collections were much admired. 



