REPORT 



COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1888. 



By E. W. WOOD, Chairman, 



In ordinary seasons the fruits of New England suffer more from 

 drought than from any other single cause, but the past season has 

 proved exceptional in this respect, and the fruit-bearing trees, 

 shrubs and vines have made a strong growth. The fruit prospects 

 at the opening of Spring were more promising than usual. Straw- 

 berries had suffered little during the winter ; peach buds were 

 killed less than for several years past ; and it was the bearing year 

 for the apple, and the fruit buds indicated an unusual bloom. With a 

 few exceptions these earl}' promises have been realized. The rains 

 destroyed a portion of the cherries and there were few shown at 

 our exhibition. The cool, wet weather was unfavorable for ripen- 

 ing the grapes and the early frosts destroyed a large portion of 

 those grown in this State. Even where the vines were girdled, — a 

 plan practiced to some extent by those who grow mainly the 

 Concord variety, — they failed to ripen. The Moore's Early was 

 the only variety, grown to any considerable extent in this vicinity, 

 that appeared in our markets up. to the usual standard in qualit}'. 



The exhibition of Strawberries, June 26, was the largest for 

 many years and attracted unusual attention from visitors. The 

 Sharpless, Belmont, and Jewell were the leading prize-takers. 



