REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 287 



occur from other conditions of the atmosphere. Neither the health 

 nor vigor of the trees seems to be seriously affected, as they have 

 made fair growth the past season, and are again well furnished 

 with fruit buds. 



Strawberries. — The crop of this fruit was above the average, 

 and the exhibition more than usually interesting. Of the special 

 prizes for the best four quarts of any variety, the first and second 

 were awarded for the Sharpless ; the third, for one of several new 

 seedlings introduced by P. M. Augur & Sons, of Middlefield, 

 Conn., called the Jewell. This variety compares more favorably 

 with the Sharpless in size than any previously shown, and the 

 Committee thought it better in quality ; and from plants shown 

 with the fruit it would seem to be unusually productive. It is an 

 exceedingly strong grower, producing runners of unusual size. 

 The fourth prize was taken by Warren Heustis, for his seedling 

 Belmont ; which fully sustained the recommendations previously 

 given in these reports. As a late variety for market it is specially 

 desirable. For the best seedling introduced since 1880, the 

 Societ^^'s Silver Medal was awarded to P. M. Augur & Sons for 

 the Jewell. For one quart of any new variety not previously 

 exhibited, the first prize was awarded to Messrs. Augur & Sons 

 for the Dewey ; which was of fair size, good form and color, and 

 superior in quality to any other of the new varieties shown. The 

 second prize was awarded to W. C. Winter for the Lincoln. 



There have been the usual displays of other small fruits at the 

 weekly exhibitions ; though there has been nothing new entitled to 

 special mention. 



Currants have been shown in about the usual quantity. All 

 the open prizes for Red varieties have been taken by the Ver- 

 saillaise ; and the prizes for White were divided between the 

 French Transparent and Dana's Transparent. 



Cherries were exhibited in less quantity than for several years. 

 That this fruit is less reliable and less profitable than some of the 

 others is shown by the fact that the larger growers give it com- 

 paratively little attention, devoting their time and space to other 

 fruits. 



Raspberries were shown in about the usual quantity. The Cuth- 

 bert took the' lead as a prize winner ; this variety seems to have 

 been generally adopted by the growers. This fruit deserves more 



