36 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OiN FRUITS, 



For the Year 1860. 

 by jame3 f. c. hyde, chairman. 



Time, in its rapid flight, has brought us to the close of another year, 

 reminding us that we owe a duty to the Society, in the way of a brief 

 summary of our doings as its Fruit Committee. 



The past season has been very unlike the year previous. It has been 

 what we generally term a wet season ; a season very favorable for growth, 

 but not for ripening fruits; a good season to give size, but not to give the 

 highest quality. 



"While, during a season of severe drought, we complain of the scarcity 

 of rain, when it comes, and that too so frequently as to wet and mildew, 

 to grow weeds in abundance, as to prevent our securing our crop of hay 

 in good condition, M'e again complain of the abundance of moisture, and 

 wish it were otherwise. Vegetables have flourished wonderfully under 

 the influence of plenty of rain, with some sunshine, but fruits have suf- 

 fered, certainly in the point of quality. There has been no necessity for 

 mulching, but more for thorough drainage. The strawberry flourishes 

 under a liberal supply of water, so that it has been remarked that noth- 

 ing can be done that will prove more beneficial to this crop than a free 

 use of the pump handle. The drought of the previous year was so se- 

 vere that the strawberry plants had made few runners, and those had 

 but a feeble hold upon the soil, and the winter following proving what is 

 generally called an open winter, the strawberry plants came out very 

 poorly in the spring. The crop consequently, notwithstanding the favor- 

 able weather of May and June, was a partial failure, and the fruit 

 brought high j^rices, and even where the plants appeared pretty well there 

 was little or no crop. We account largely for this from the tact of their 

 having suffered so much during the time of drought. Could the water 

 have been applied freely during the previous year, so that the plants 

 would not have suffered, there can be no doubt but fine croi)s of fruit 

 would have this j^ear rewarded the growers. 



It should be our constant study to know what more can be done to 

 promote the cultivation of the strawberry, a luscious and healthful fruit 

 that ripens at a time when there are few other fruits. Year after year 

 we have endeavored to increase the interest of the members of our Soci- 

 ety in the culture of this delicious fruit, but while our neighbors at Bel- 

 mont have been eminently successful in securing an abundance of the 

 largest and best specimens at their exhibitions, we have nearly failed in 

 this respect, so much so the past season that we could not award some 



