96 ON FRUIT. 



I am aware that most pomologists are of the opinion that 

 trees may be propagated indefinitely by budding or grafting, 

 and without examination have adopted that theory, and thus 

 foreign varieties have been extensively cultivated, to the neg- 

 lect of new varieties of our own. 



Nature has fixed laws, is ever true to them, and cannot be 

 crowded off the track. If this theory is the law of nature, all 

 existing varieties of fruit must in their own time cease to ex- 

 ist. You will then understand why I consider it of so much 

 importance to endeavor to introduce new and improved varieties. 



I am of opinion that the pear has been cultivated so long by 

 suckers, from old trees, that it may possibly become extinct. 

 The old trees have lost their vitality, and cannot transmit life 

 to their seed. This seems to me the reason why we have so 

 many failures in pear seedlings, I seldom see a young pear 

 tree, they are little old ones, just ready to die. 



You will make such use of these hasty suggestions, as you 

 deem best calculated to advance the culture of new and im- 

 proved varieties of fruits. 



Respectfully yours. JOSHUA H. ORDWAY. 



ON FRUIT. 



The Committeee Report, that the exhibition of Fruits was 

 this year united with that of the Essex Institute, under whose 

 judicious direction the arrangements for the display were made, 

 and an unusually satisfactory exhibition secured. The com- 

 mittee feel warranted in saying, that this show has not only 

 been superior to any previously made by the Society, but that 

 it has been fully equal to, if it has not surpassed all similar ex- 

 hibitions in the State ; this com-parison particularly applies to 

 the show of Pears. Without further remark, we proceed in 

 behalf of this society to award the usual gratuities. 



To Robert Manning, W. G. Lake, Charles F. Putnam, Mo- 

 ses Pettingil, and J, M. Ives, two dollars each. John C, Lee, 

 three dollars, Ephraim Brown, John F, Allen, Ephraim Emer- 

 ton, and J. S. Cabot, one dollar and fifty cents. To Andrew 



