176 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plants of maiden hair fern (Adiantum Farleyense), were eleven 

 varieties of foreign grapes. Never in the history of this building, 

 at least, has the Society had the pleasure of seeing sneh a fine 

 exhibit. The fruit was well grown, beautifully staged, and of the 

 b< -t quality. 



This exhibit goes to prove that with a little encouragement From 

 the Society fruit of this class will be shown at our exhibitions, 

 thus stimulating a revival of the culture of hot-house fruits and of 

 their exhibition. Morton F. Plant of Groton, Connecticut, 

 Thomas W. Head, Superintendent, also had a very fine collection 

 of four varieties of foreign grapes showing wonderful culture. The 

 bunches were very large, the berries of great size, and the bloom 

 perfect upon them. YYe hope in the future more thought will be 

 U'iven to the artistic arrangement of exhibits of orchard house fruits. 



In 190S the Society offered two special prizes of $100.00 and $50.00 

 for apple orchards, said prizes to lie awarded after three consecutive 

 years of examination by the Committee on Fruits. 



The First Prize- lias been awarded to Lyman F. Priest of Gleason- 

 dale, and the Second Prize to F. Cyrus Miller of Haydenville. 



As the orchards entered for these prizes have been viewed the 

 two previous years and also visited this year by the former Chair- 

 man of the Fruit Committee, Mr. Wilfrid Wheeler, he has been 

 requested to make the report which is appended herewith. 



Repout on the Orchard Contest of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society. 



by wilfrid wheeler. 



In L908 tins Society offered a prize for the besl apple orchard in bearing 

 in .Massachusetts, hoping thereby to create a renewed interest in apple 

 production, and bring to life an enthusiasm along this line, which for the 

 pasl twenty-five years or more, has been steadily declining. The carrying 



out of this contest was left in the hands of the Committee on Fruits which 

 now submits Hie following report. 



There were only four entries made in the contest, but in these we had 

 three distincl types of orchards represented, and different methods in 

 regard to care and management, so lhat there was much of interest to see 

 and compare. Two of the four entries referred to were large commercial 



