REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1877. 



By HERVEY DAVIS, Chairman. 



The season now drawing to a close, has been \erj favorable for 

 nearly all kinds of Fruits, and the exhibitions will compare very 

 satisfactorily with those of the past few years, in regard to all 

 fruits, excepting apples and blackberries. The show of apples has 

 been the most inferior for several j^ears, which is much to be 

 regretted, as this is the most valuable fruit of the New England 

 States, and the small crop will be a serious and irreparable loss. 



It gives us much pleasure to see the interest that manj^ of our 

 oldest contributors still continue to manifest in our exhibitions ; 

 most prominent among whom may be mentioned Hon. Marshall P. 

 Wilder and the Messrs. Hovey, all of whom joined the Society soon 

 after its formation, now nearly half a century ago, the last Annual 

 Exhibition having been the Forty-ninth. And while we speak of 

 those who are with us, it is sad to recall how many of our most 

 constant exhibitors are gone. Among those most prominent and 

 greatly missed, it may not be out of place to mention, as always 

 present at our exhibitions, Josiah Stickney, Francis Dana, Fred- 

 erick Clapp, Joseph H. Fenno, and B. B. Davis ; all of them very 

 active and constant contributors. But while we mourn the loss of 

 those tried friends, we are glad to see coming forward to take their 

 places so many young and enthusiastic persons, who, we doubt not, 

 will make our exhibitions as good and interesting as those of past 

 years. It is also very gratifying to see the general interest mani- 

 fested at the present time, in originating new hybrid and other 

 seedlings of different species of fruits, which must in the near future, 

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