REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1875. 



By HERVEY DAVIS, Chairman. 



The winter of 1874-5, had no very remarkable features, with the 

 exception of the severe cold, which was unparalleled for steadi- 

 ness and dui-atiou, having commenced about the first of December 

 and continued until March, with hardly a day of mild weather 

 such as we almost alwaj^s have during the winter months, and par- 

 ticularly in January, when we usually have a thaw in the course 

 of the month. The ground is believed to have frozen deeper than 

 ever before known, and in many places in Boston and vicinity, the 

 water pipes were frozen in places where they were never known to 

 freeze before. It was thought by many that the extreme cold of 

 winter would destroy most of the small fruits of New England, 

 but we were happily disappointed in this respect, as most of the 

 small fruits came out in the spring in fine order, and we had an 

 abundance of most of them, particularly of strawberries, of which 

 the crop is believed to have been one of the best for a number of 

 years. Blackberry canes were considerably injured by the severe 

 winter, and in some places entirely killed, so that the crop of this 

 very valuable fruit was almost an entire failure in Massachusetts. 

 The more tender varieties of the native grape vines, that were not 

 protected by being covered in some way, were either killed or 

 badly injured. It would seem from the effects of the past cold 

 winter that it would be the wisest and safest wa}' for all amateur 

 grape growers who have only a limited number of vines, to have 

 them well protected during tlie winter; by so doing, they will be 

 surer of an annual crop of fruit. The season was very cold and 



