78 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fact that the collection was originally made for the purpose of mod- 

 elling from, and perfection of form and color were sought rather 

 than size, which ruled in the collection sent in 1874. 



Pears. — It gives us much pleasure to be able to report a very 

 fine display of this fruit during the entire season. At the weekly 

 shows and at the Annual Exhibition, prizes were offered, as last 

 year, onl}' for single dishes. We are satisfied that this is the best 

 method of offering and awarding prizes, as in all cases the best 

 fruit receives the premiums, if the judgment of the Committee is 

 correct. The varieties most worthy of particular mention this 

 season are the Bartlett, Souvenir du Congres, Duchesse, Winter 

 Nelis, and Doyenne du Cornice. At the Annual Exhibition the 

 show of Bartletts was one of the best ever made by this Society, 

 there being twenty-eight dishes, and most of them very fine. The 

 four dishes receiving the prizes weighed, respectivel}^, 9 lbs. 3^ 

 ozs., 9 lbs. 2 ozs., 9 lbs. ^ oz., and 8 lbs. 15^ ozs. The pears 

 which attracted most attention at the Annual Exhibition were the 

 Souvenir du Congres, from Warren Fenno. These were the finest 

 specimens of the kind ever shown here, averaging a little over a 

 pound each in weight, and the largest measuring seven inches in 

 length. For the information of the many who were so much in- 

 terested in this superb dish of pears we will say, that in quality the 

 variety will rank as " ver}' good," and that the tree is a ver}' vigor- 

 ous grower. At the Annual Exhibition, A. J. Coe, of West Men- 

 don, Conn., presented two specimens each of Beurre d'Anjou, 

 Beurre Superfin, Lawrence, Vicar, and Winter Nelis. These were 

 all quite large, but not as handsome or of as good shape as many 

 dishes of the same varieties shown b}' other persons. 



At the exhibition on the 6th of October, the most remarkable 

 display- was of the Duchesse ; there being twenty-six dishes, most 

 of them \evy fine ; the three dishes receiving the several premiums 

 weighed as follows : 13 lbs. 5^ ozs., 13 lbs. 4| ozs., 13 lbs. 4 ozs., 

 and several of the other dishes were nearly as large. 



November 3, M. Morse had a remarkable dish of Doyenne du 

 Comice. November 10th, at the annual show of winter pears, the 

 display was very fine — much above the average of the past few 

 j-ears. AVe think we can say without any doubt, that the dish of 

 Winter Nelis, receiving the first prize, was the largest and hand- 

 somest dish of this variety ever shown at any of our exhibitions, 

 and we think wc can challenge California to produce a dish that 



