REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 289 



Peaks have been abundant, and the exhibitions have been well 

 sustained through the season ; and the competition on some of the 

 more popular varieties has been so great that the Committee have 

 been unable to recognize properly all that were offered. There 

 have been some complaints among growers at the prices realized ; 

 but those who have had well-grown fruit of such varieties as the 

 trade demanded, when they compare the prices with those of 

 other articles, either of luxury or necessity, have little cause for 

 complaint. The opportunity supplied by the cold-storage houses 

 for extending the season of some of the earlier pears has been of 

 great advantage to the growers. All tlie better varieties of 

 October pears could be furnished in perfect condition for the 

 Thanksgiving dinner. 



Apples. — As already stated above, there has not, certainly for 

 many years, been so large a crop of apples on the odd year as was 

 gathered the past season. At this year's Annual Exhibition, for 

 the first time in the history of our Society, the prizes offered for 

 this fruit were nearly all awarded. 



In addition to the displays at regular exhibitions, specimens 

 have been received and placed upon the tables in the Librarj' 

 Room, for exhibition, as follows: — 



A. L. Hitchcock sent a cluster of Grape Fruit received from 

 Florida, resembling Shaddocks, but growing in clusters. This is 

 the Citrus jjompelmos racemoxiis of Risso and Poiteau. 



There were received from the Maine Pomological Society forty- 

 three varieties of Apples, comprising the most popular kinds 

 grown iu that State, mau}^ of which were familiar to and are grown 

 by our own exhibitors. 



A collection of Apples was received, through Hon. Marshall 

 P. Wilder, from Nebraska. They were very smooth and fair, and 

 of large size ; but hardly in condition to afford a fair test of 

 quality. 



A dish of Seedling Apples was received from John F. Jones, 

 Contoocook, N.H. They were of large size, perfect form, and a 

 deep bright red color throughout ; of fair quality, and would make 

 a very attractive market variety. 



Of fruits previously entered for the Prospective Prizes, the 

 Hayes Grape and the Belmont Strawberry were the only ones to 

 which the attention of the Committee has been called. P. M. 



