FRUIT committee's REPORT. 37 



these varieties have deteriorated. We may rather say that the condi- 

 tions of healthy growth have failed. Dr. ShurtlefF exhibited specimens 

 of his Seedling Pears, a lengthy description of which was given in the 

 report of last year, to which we can add nothing at present. The fol- 

 lowing Seedlings worthy of note were exhibited by T. & L. Clapp: 

 Sarah, above medium, obovate, yellowish, with russet i^atches; flesh, 

 white, melting, sweet, flavor of the Seckel; ripe October 12th, promising. 

 Xewhall, a Seedling from Marie Louise, which it resembles, promises 

 well, ripe October 20th. Also, a Seedling not named, a russet, above 

 medium, a perfect pyramid, juicy, a spicy mace-like flavor, good. F. 

 Dana extends his long list of Seedlings, exhibiting one resembling the 

 Marie Louise, and another very like the Dix. 



The Goodale Pear was on the tables at the Annual Exhibition, but as 

 it has been fully described in previous reports we can add nothing. 

 Asahel Foot exhibited a Seedling of the Seckel, which is more oblate, 

 but otherwise like its parent. Another Seedling by Mr. Foot is called 

 "Weeping Willow, from the remarkably pendulous habit of the tree, but 

 the fruit is of third quality. The only prominent Winter varieties were 

 Lawrence, Winter Nelis and Caen de France. 



Ajiples are grown with perfect success in the very heart of infected 

 districts. It may be difiicult yet, plainly, it is possible to triumph over 

 cankerworms, curculio and caterpillars. When the cultivator has but 

 few trees, it is scarcely an object to exercise eternal vigilance, but for a 

 large orchard, the cost of continuous tarring for the cankerworm is 

 comparatively trifling. Enterprise is the main requisite. It has been a 

 great mistake to sacrifice healthy young orchards which, with little ex- 

 pense, would jjrobably yield as large profit as anv other product. The 

 single orchard of the Messrs. Clapp disproves thfe whole list of diseased, 

 neglected and stunted orchards to be seen on every side. The evil is, 

 however, in many cases beyond remedy. Trees which have been stripped 

 of foliage for three or four years, especially if of full age, become so 

 stunted and checked as to be scarcely worth recovering. Hence the 

 greater need of protecting all that are yet vigorous. 



The Williams was, as usual, the most prominent Summer Apple, fol- 

 lowed by the Gravenstein in Autumn, and, with unusual prominence, by 

 the Iluljbardston for Winter. Of course it is not safe to follow these 

 indications blindly. The best and most showy fruits may not be pro- 

 ductive or adapted to general culture. Yet it is believed that an exami- 

 nation of the prize varieties of the various fruits will, in the main, guide 

 to safe conclusions. 



The Grape has been affected by the excessive rains, more than any 

 other fruit. The Concord has suffered severely from mildew of the 

 bunch, while all varieties have been more or less affected by mildew of 

 the foliage. Add to this, that the crop was backward and in many local- 



