REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES, 



FOB THE YEAR 1888. 



By CHARLES N. BRACKETT, Chairman. 



The results of the exhibitions of the various vegetable pro- 

 ductions of the season which have been made in this department 

 the past year, when we take into account the unfavorable 

 conditions under which they were grown, may, on the whole, be 

 considered successful, and great credit is due to our contributors 

 for making such good exhibits as they have, under so many trying 

 and discouraging circumstances. 



The spring opened late, wet, and cold. The planting season 

 was not favorable, the temperature being low in April and May, 

 and the moisture excessive, making replanting a necessity too 

 general for either the comfort or profit of the husbandman. 

 Plant growth was slow, and many plants presented an unthrifty 

 appearance throughout the season on account of cool days and 

 nights, and excess of moisture. 



The season has been more favorable to those ci'ops which do not 

 require a high temperature than to others. Potatoes and all root 

 crops have grown with unusual luxuriance and the jield has been 

 abundant. The excess of moisture, and the low temperature were 

 unfavorable for the more tender vegetables, and furnished favor- 

 able conditions for the appearance of mildew and rust, which 

 caused considerable damage to various crops. The melon, 

 which delights in heat and comparative dryness, and which at one 

 time looked quite promising, was so much injui'ed by the heavy 

 rains of July and the beginning of August, as to cause an almost 

 entire failure of the crop. 



