1857.] REPORT ON PEARS. 9 



Second best, to Dr. Workman, of Worcester, 1 00 



Third best, to S. G. Reed, of Worcester, 1 00 



The only Quinces entered were the Orange. Awarded : 



For the best dish, to Wm. Mayo, of Worcester, 2 00 



Second best, Anthony Chase, of Worcester, 1 00 



There were three large and beautiful collections of Grapes grown 

 under glass ; all of them worthy of much praise. Awarded : 

 For the largest and best collection, to John C. Whitin, of Whitinsville, $4 00 



For the second best, to Wm. A. Wheeler, of Worcester, 3 00 



For the third best, to Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, 2 00 



For best specimen of Diana Grapes, to John C. Whitin, 2 00 



For best specimen of Native Grape worthy of cultivation, to Tim- 

 othy K. Earle, of Worcester, for Hartford Prolific, 2 00 



Darius Rice and Charles Nash, of Worcester, both exhibited specimens of 

 Syrup from the Chinese Sugar Cane, which commended themselves to the good 

 taste of the Committee. 



FRANCIS H. DEWEY, 



Chairman. 



REPORT ON PEARS. 



William N. Green, of Worcester, Chairman; Austin Underwood, of 

 Westborough ; George T. Rice, James F. Allen, Emory Banister, of 

 Worcester. 



The Committee to whom was referred the awarding of the several premiums 

 for Pears exhibited at the Annual Exhibition of the Worcester County Horti- 

 cultural Society, for the year 1857, respectfully report : that the exhibition of 

 Pears, (considering the unpropitious weather during the fruiting season now 

 past), is unusually good, as the numerous well-grown specimens of many fine 

 varieties i;pon the Society's tables bear ample testimony. Eighty-five differ- 

 ent contributions of Pears were numbered upon the Society's Book of Entries. 



It was pleasing to your Committee to observe the number of comparatively 

 new varieties exhibited, which give large promise of future excellence. It is 

 generally conceded that the scions of new varieties of pears for the first season 

 or two of their producing fruit, often yield fruit inferior to the usual quality of 

 the variety. Hence a variety can hardly be noted as of established merit until 

 after several years of fruiting. Pears of the same variety vary much in the 

 quality of their flesh, as well as the beauty of their appearance, when grown 

 on different soils. The Beurre Diel, for instance, a variety well known, when 

 grown upon rich, heavy loam, over a clayey sub-soil, is very liable to crack, 

 while the same pear, grown upon a warm loam with a gravelly or porous sub- 

 soil is uniformly fair, and is, upon both soils, very prolific. 



So, too, the old favorite St. Michael, grown on pear stocks, is very liable to 

 crack and blight, while the same pear, upon Quince stocks, is almost uniformly 

 fair and good. 



