^)C iTarmcv'G iHontl)ln lliMtor. 



155 



cimens of Apples, 17 of Pears, 4 of Quinces, 12 of 

 Pe;iches, 5 of Plums, ;itul 1 1 of Grapes. 



Of the 192 specMiiieiis exliiLited, 130 were produced 

 in Concord Mri<l \i(lMitj,and ()2 in iM.issaeluiseiis. '1 he 

 lalter were oblained hy the sohcilalions ol" members of 

 this socielj- for ihe purpose of exhibiting to the sight 

 and taste, specimens of rare and choice fruil, worthy 

 of more extensive cullivaliori among us. From this 

 the comniillce aniiiipate the most favorable results. 



'1 lie nunjber of contributors of fruit amounted to 

 aliout fifij'. '1 hose w ho contributed the largest number 

 of varieties, were As.i Cleujeiit, Jr., Isaac llolden, 

 Sinjeon Farnurn and i.. \'osc. 



_ Asa Clement, Jr. ixhiliited 25 varieties, viz: 14 va- 

 rieties of apples, 4 of peaches and 7 of grapes. 



Isaac llolden, 24 varieties, viz: 12 of apples, 6 of 

 pears, 4 of peaches and 2 of grapes. 



Simeon Farnum, 24 varieties, viz: 23 of apples, and 

 1 of pears. 



E, Vose, 12 varieties, viz: 3 of apples and 9 of pears. 

 Thus it will be perceived lh:it f-injenn Farnum o( 

 this town contributed the greatest nun. her of varieties 

 of apples, and E. Vose of Uorchesler, Mass., the larg- 

 est \arietics of pears. 



Among the most important varieties of fruit produc- 

 ed for exhiliiliou were the following, viz : of .Apples 



thebaldwin; the Blue Pcarnjain; tlie Rhode Island 

 Greening; the Koxburj' liusselt; the New \ drU Kus- 

 sel; the Gravcnslein; Peck's I'leas.int; the llubbards- 

 ton Nonesuch; the lied iNunesucli; the llavvthornden; 

 Ihe Kilhanj Hill; the Orlley Pippin; the King of the 

 Pippins; the Porter; the j.vscomb; the .Ames; the 

 York; the Jackson; the Runnels; Ihe Puijipkin Sweet; 

 Lyman's Pumpkin i^wcel; the Orange ^'wcet; the 

 \\ ijiter Green Sweet; the Pudding Sweet, (which is 

 probabi)' identical with the RamsdePs Red Pumpkin 

 Sweet;) the Rumford Seedling; the Snelling apple; 

 the Fall Greetjing; the Spice Seedling; the Haskell 

 Sweet; the .Mamn.oth or Stripeil Sweet; the Green 

 Sweeting; the West Seedling; the Al-bot Fall Seed- 

 ling, beside a great varietj' of other seedlings of less 

 note. 



Of Ihe Baldwin, Ihe largest and best specimen was 

 presented by Aalh'l Evans, Jr. A single apple in the 

 vessel containing the specinren from James Buswell 

 w.is larger th;in any other exhibited of this variety ; but 

 those from Jlr. I'.vana were all very large, ami truly 

 magnificent : but little inferior to these were those pre- 

 sented by Isaac llolden of Billerica, Mass. '1 here 

 were very fine .specimens, also, from Simeon Abbot, 

 B. F. Iloldeu and Jeren.iah Pecker; also, fiom Asa' 

 Clenjcnt, jr. of Dracut, Ma.ss : there were al^o fair and 

 well grown specimens of this apple from Simeon Far- 

 num, Ilazen Walker, S.anuel Herbert, Richard Her- 

 bert, Nath'l Mann, Peler C. Virgin and Wiliian] Pres- 

 coll; also from Benjamin Morrill, Samuel Currier and 

 Joseph Tallant of Canterbury. 



'J he largest and best specimens of Blue Pearmain 

 were fiom Perkins Gale, Aath'l Abbot and Asa Clem- 

 ent, jr. Good specimens from Simeoji Farnum, Hazen 

 Walker, Richard Herbert, William Prescolt, I^Jaih'l 

 JIann, Joseph Tallant and T. Haines. 



The best specimens of Rhode Island Greening were 

 from Asa Clement, jr., and those from Peter C. Virgin 

 were hut little inferior. 'Ihose from Simeon Farnum 

 were good, fiir and well grown. 



As it will not be convenient, nor would it be expedi- 

 ent, to decuie upon each specimen of all the varieties 

 exhibited, your committee will proceed to call the at- 

 tention of the society to the merits of a few distinouish- 

 cd varieties, worthy of their attention, and of a "more 

 general cultivation. 



For early Fall apples, the Porter, exhibited by Asa 

 Clement, jr., of Dracut, and the Gravenstein by'lsaac 

 Holden of Billerica, hold the first r.ink, and should 

 possess a place in every fruit garden. The fornjer 

 origmated in Massachusetts, and is a most delicious 

 desert fruit; the latter origin.ttcd in Germany, and de- 

 servedly bears a high repute as a good eating fruit. 

 The L\scoinb,thc Orange Sweet, and Lyman 's^Pump- 

 km Sweet, are entitled to the high reputation [hey have 

 .nlready received, and merit a very general cuHivation. 

 The Lyscomb, eNhiluied by Isiac llolden, is well suit- 

 ed to follow the 1 oner and' Gravenstein, being a splen- 

 did desert apple, ripe in October and November, 'j he 

 Orange Sweet, by Asa Clement, jr. is a fine and large 

 variety, flesh sweet, rich and e.xcellent. Lyman's 

 Pumpkin Sweet, exhibited by B. Franklin Gale, is :, 

 first rate apple for cooking, and by some is highly es- 

 teemed as a desert fruit; the speci'ii. ens exhibited were 

 very large, fair and hue, and as it has" proved a -ood 

 producer in this climate, it may be extensively cuhiva- 

 ted with safety and profil. As fill apples, iho Abliot 

 Late Seedling, and the West Seedling are entitled to 

 the care and attenliou of all lovers of good fruit in this 

 vicinity. The former, produced by Mr. Sanmel .Ab- 

 bot, sen. and son, and called Abbot's LateSeedliu", (to 

 distinguish it from the early Abbot apple, ripe the first 

 of August) is a large and beautiful ajiple, skin chiefly 

 red when ripe, flesh )ellowish, of a rich and delicious 

 flavor, and bids fair to become one of our most desira- 

 ble fruiN. The We,s| Seedling merits every thint-thnl 



has been said of the Abbot Late; it is of large .size, 

 skin of a delicate pale yellow, with a slight blu.sh on 

 the side ne.vl the sun; flesh tender and <lelicious. '1 his 

 apide was raiseil by ftlrs. John West, from a tree pro- 

 duced by a seed planted by herself in her own door 

 yard, where it now stands. It is a good and safe poli- 

 cy to cultivate our own seedlings when we find them of 

 superior meiit, for being natives of ibis climate, they 

 may be extensively propagated wilii safely. While the 

 New York Pippin and the Swaar outrival all other 

 apples in New York, where they are natives, it is well 

 known that iu this climate they i'all far beliind many of 

 our New England varieties. 



For winter apples, in addition to those varieties hith- 

 erto cultivated here, the llubbardston Nonesuch, the 

 Spice apple, and Peck's Pleasant, from Isaac llolden. 

 and the York :ipple, the Jackson apple, the Winter 

 (ireen Sweet and the Runnels apple, from .'\sa Clem- 

 ent, jr., are all worthy of extensive propagation. 'Ihe 

 latter, together Hith ihe Iron apple, are particularly 

 distinguished for their long keeping, or resistance to 

 decay. 



Many other varieties of apples were exhibited, some 

 of which merit more extensive cultivation; among these 

 vvas a very large and splendid sour apple, produced by 

 N. Evans, jr., variety not known; in size, color and 

 general appearance it could scarcely be distinguished 

 bom Lyman's Pumpkin Sweet. '1 he Pudding Sweet, 

 Iroiii the orchards of Simeon Farnum and S. Angier, 

 w ill not sufl'er in comparing it w ith any other sweet ap- 

 ple, either in color, beauty or flavor. It is of a rich 

 and beautiful red color, above the medium size; flesh 

 tender and delicious. 1 his is probably identical with 

 Ramsdel's Red Pumpkin Sweet. 



\ ery fine specimens of seedlings and nameless vari- 

 eties were produced also by Asa lowler, O. H. Stone, 

 Abiel Chandler, 'J imolhy Chandler, Sin. eon Abbot, 

 Jona. Pecker, Mrs. Pecker, John Greenough, Paul 

 Wentvvorth, Cyrus Hill, John Pelliiigill, .Mrs. Gilmore, 

 S. A. Kimball, John Jlills and olhers. 



Fine specimens of the Roxbuiy Russet were produc- 

 ed from Ihe gardens of .Asa lowler, Isaac llolden and 

 Asa Clement, jr., and fair specimens from Simeon Far- 

 num, Richard Herbert and Joseph 'lull, int. The value 

 and import.'.nce of this apple is loo well known to need 

 any commendation from the committee. 



It is proper here to name the apple called the h:ilf 

 sour and h.ilf sweet, from Mrs. Gilmore. The com- 

 mittee examined this apple very ihoioi.glily and ascer- 

 tained lh:it one half of it was decieedly sweet and the 

 other half as decidedly sour. 



The collection was also enriched by specimens of 

 Ihe celebrated llawthoriiden apple, the Orlley pippin 

 and the King ol the Pippins, from the garden ot E. 

 Vose, Esq., of Dorchester, Mass. 



It is but justice here to say that muoh credit is due 

 to Simeon I-'arnum, for the zeal and perseverance man- 

 ifested in the collection and cultivation of so fine a va- 

 riety of fruits. And as his (M-ch,ird is jouiig and just 

 commenced bearing, it is presumed he will soon be re- 

 warded for hi.s industry, by disposing of his valu:ible 

 fruit to those who wish to lay in a winters supply. 



Joseph Tallant and Samuel Currier of Cauterbury, 

 have also distinguished themselves above their neigh- 

 bors, by their thrifty orch.,rds, bendii g u.ider their 

 heavy loads of choice fall and winter I'ruii, indicating a 

 high state of cultivation. 



It is a result much to be desired that our Crmers 

 geuerally would follow iheir example. 



But two specimens of pears were exhibited by citi- 

 zens of this town, showing a great w.int of attention 

 to the prop„galion and cuilivafion of this rich and de- 

 licious fruit. 'J his neg ect is doubtless in a great mea- 

 sure owing to the long cherished notion that pear trees 

 cannot be made to produce fruil unlil fifteen or twenty 

 years old: but, as they can be brought to fruit bearing 

 under the present in. proved method of cultivalioii as 

 early as the apple, this excuse can no longer be urged 

 in extenuation for such neglect, and the Committee feel 

 constrained to urge upon the members of this society, 

 and the community at large, the importance of an ear- 

 ly and persevering attention to this branch of pomolog- 

 ical culture. 'I'lie varieties produced were the St. .Mi- 

 chael by Nathaniel .Abbot, and the Bradley pear by 

 Simeon Farnum, both fine pears and good specimens. 

 'Ihe St. Michael h:is long been celebrated as an excel- 

 lent pear, but from some cause unknown, it has for 

 several years past greatly deteriorated, and but little 

 thought of. For two or three years past it seems lo be 

 reviving and assuming its former well e.irned reputa- 

 tion, 'ihe specimens exhibited by Mr. Abbot, were 

 well grown, I'.iir and handsome; the Bradley pear has 

 long been known in this town as a large, faiV, and fine 

 flavored pe r. 



But this department was highly enriched by Ihe fol- 

 lowing varieties from the g;irden of E. Vose Esq., of 

 Dorchester .'\iass., and Isaac Clement of Eilleiica. 

 From the former we had a splendid specimen of the 

 Dutchess d' Angoulcme, the Napoleon, the Golden Beu- 

 rre of Bilboa, the Roy d' Wurtembnigh, the Calillac, 

 the Urbaniste, the .Marie Louise, the Columbia Verga- 

 lieu, ,Tnd the Black pear of Worcester. From the lat- 



ter, the Bartlett, the Fulton, the Seckel, the Sug.ir, the 

 Beurre- nd. and the .Monsieur Le Cure. 'I hi^ was a 

 neb and line collection, most of the varieties, liavino. 

 for a long time been celebrated as first rate pears U 

 is most ardently hoped that the day is nut I'lr distant, 

 when our exhibitions will be graced by specimens of 

 many o( these varieties from our own gardens 



'J he cultivation of the Quince has also been much 

 neglected; but the m.ignificent specimens of theOrange 

 Quince from the garden of N. G. Ipliam, Em, ren- 

 ders It no longer doubtful that this fruit may be mado 

 to flourish in this climate and directly upoiMhe banks 

 of the Merrimack, and the high value set upon it rend- 

 ers it worthy of a thorough and extensive trial. Fine 

 specimens were also produced by Isaac Clement. 



But foiirspe<:imeiisof Peaches were exhibited by cit- 

 izensoflhis town; iwo by Nathaniel Mann, one of which 

 was a fine peach, of medium size, juicy and good fla- 

 vored. '1 he specimens by James Buswell and Joseph 

 Eastman jr., were seedlings, very large, and splendid; 

 but as they were not fully ripe, the Committee had no 

 opportunity of testing Iheir rjualilies. '1 here can be 

 very little doubt, however, that they will prove lo be 

 Viiluable varieties. 'Ihe Imperial Purple and the Gold- 

 en Purple, from the garden of A. Coburn of Dracut, 

 and procured by Asa Clement jr., were very pleasant, 

 rich and fine fl.ivored; ihe former was superior and de- 

 licious. 'Ihe Blood Freeslone, from the garden of P. 

 P. Coburn of Dracut, is a fine and delicious peach; 

 and Ihe Blood Cling-stone from Ihe s,,me place, is a 

 beauiiful pe.,cli, and like most cling-sione peaches, 

 makes excellent preserves. Isaac Holden of billerica, 

 furnished Pool's Late Yellow, the Ked-cheek Clin"! 

 stone, the Blood Cling-stone and the Cream peach. 

 'I he latter w.is superb, melting and highly delicious. 

 Pool's Late Yellow is also an excellent peach, and mer- 

 its extensive cultivation. 



It is a generally received opinion that peach trees can- 

 not be made productive in lliis climate, and as the tree 

 flourishes well, vaiious causes have been assigned for 

 its unproductiveness— some atti ibuling it to the fog 

 from Ihe Merrimack; olhers to late frosts in the sprin» 

 after the appearance of the blossoms. But there can 

 be no doubt that, by a proper system of pruning and 

 training, l.iking care that the roots are not exposed lo 

 the he.it of the sun loo early iu the spring, the peach 

 may he produced here in all' its excelience'and in great 

 abundance. 

 I Five specimens of plums were exhibited, which, 

 j though not 1 .ige, weie all very (me and pleasant fla- 

 ivored. Iwo <if these were from John Pelliiigill; one 

 from Mrs. W. It. Sallbrd, one from J. II. Currier, and 

 one from the Stark Farm in Duiibarton. 'J here is no 

 doubt this fruit may be made to flouiisb here in all its 

 richness, and in great abundance, and it is to be hoped 

 that an increased attention will hereafter be p.iid to its 

 culture. 



The collection of grapes speaks but poorly for Ihe at- 

 tention to ihe cultivation of that fruit in this place; a 

 solitary s]iecimcn from ibe garden of PerkinsGale, be- 

 ing all that ciiiie under the inspection of jour Commit- 

 tee, with the exception of those brought from Massa- 

 chusetts. 



.Asa Clement jr., of Dracut, furnished finespecimens 

 of the Is.ibell., and C.ilawba, Iwo n:ilive v.arinies of a 

 more souiherii climate, but which will flourish here by 

 proper training. He :iUo exhibiled four oilier varieties, 

 natives of New England, and one fiom P. P. Coburn, 

 also native, large and fine flavored. Is:iac Holden of 

 Billerica, produced good specimens of an English grape 

 and fine specimens of the Isabella. All these varieties 

 of grapes will flourish in this climate, and no fruil can 

 be raised with less trouble or expense in proportion to 

 its value. It is well known that the nalive grape grows 

 spont.ineously, all abuig the borders of the Merrimack. 

 Of course the soil is congenial lo the growth of the vinej 

 and it only needs proper care in planting, pruning and 

 training, to produce ihe Iruit in any desirable quantity. 

 Many of the first late grapes are natives, and when a 

 good variety has been produced, it only remains lo in- 

 sert its buds in a vine producing a less valuable varie- 

 ty, and a choice grapery may soon be produced. 



Finally, it only remains for the Committee to con- 

 gratulate the Society on the prosperity and success 

 which has hitherto crowned its labors, and to urge up- 

 on the members the importance of their united, zealous 

 and peiseveriiig eti'orls in cherishing and promoting the 

 objects of the institution; an inslituiion fraught with so 

 important consequencis; one which has so auspicious- 

 ly commenced, and which is so replete with promise of 

 future usefulness. 



WILLIAM PRESCOTT, for the Committee. 



REPORT OM PLArJTS AND FLOXVERS. 



The recent exhibition of Plants and Flowers, con- 

 sidering that it w.-is the first one .wul prepared al short 

 notice vvas highly satisf.ictory and creditable. Some of 

 the specimens of these the fairest of all God's works, 

 were remarkably good, and none were too poor to de- 

 serve notice. '1 he names of the contributors .Tiid their 

 contributions, will be enumerated in alphabetical order. 

 It is hoped that this record of them, lo he preserved in 



