34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



exceeded our limit in these speculations, and now turn to record the 

 work of the season. 



Ou the 16th of Januaiy your Committee visited the Fruit House of E. 

 S. Converse, in Maiden, constructed on the plan of Professor Nyce. Mr, 

 Converse gave us most liberal opportunity for testing the keeping quali- 

 ties of various fruits, and also for inspecting the jjlan and merits of the 

 House. "Well knoM^n principles of science have been applied, in the con- 

 struction of the House, so that the results are highly satisfactory. "While 

 there are some exceptions, the Strawberry being an example, the great 

 majority of fruits may be kept as in a dormant state, for a great length of 

 time. In most cases the flavor of the fruit is not materially allected, 

 though the change is generally rapid when brought into the ojjen air, 

 "With good judgment in the selection of varieties there can be no doubt 

 of the practical value of these Fruit Houses, though it is to be borne in 

 mind that fruits out of season are often out of place. Bartlett Pears 

 sold at lower rates in November than in Septembei*. "Were they brought 

 in as abundantly in the latter month, the market would be quite over 

 stocked. This law of the market is recognized by every dealer, no en- 

 terprise for securing the earliest fruits being considered hazardous, while 

 the late varieties of a given kind of fniit have to meet a satiated appetite. 

 This accounts, in a degree, for the neglect of the so called ever-bearing, 

 or fall-bearing varieties of fruit. At the Pomological Convention of this 

 year, there was a disposition to condemn the entire list. The Catawissa 

 Rasi)berry, at least, deserves to be excepted, since it is so entirely sepa- 

 rated from all the other crops of small fruits, as to be called an indepen- 

 dent crop. Under good management it will yield a large crop in Sep- 

 tember, not valuable for the market it is true, but supplying a tea table 

 want which has been met only by peaches. 



As has been stated, the appetite is keen for early fruits, for good spec- 

 imens of which extravagant prices are paid. No variety of fruit is so 

 well adapted for forcing as the Grape. It is easy of management, it 

 retains the highest excellence of flavor under glass, it is an attractive and 

 saleable fruit in the market. As a jiecuniary enterprise we think that 

 in sheltered positions and in low houses adapted solely to this purpose, 

 grapes may be forced with great success, and at prices much belo'vf' those 

 now ruling, during the months of April, May, and a part of June. M. 

 II. Simpson was the only exhibitor of early Grapes. His Muscat of 

 Alexandria, on the 22d of June, were compact and fine bunches, yet 

 scarcely ripe. C. S. Ilolbrook has been very successful in growing 

 forced Peaches, bringing them in just before the ripening of Strawber- 

 ries, in June, and obtaining from .512 to SIS per dozen for the fruit. The 

 house in which these are grown is 60 feet long, and contains 30 trees, in 

 boxes 3 feet square. The present was the 13th crpp, and on one tree 220 

 fruit were picked. These figures are remarkable, and it must be added 



