REPORT TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 315 



Owing to the lateness of the season of 1888, native grapes were 

 not as ripe as usual. Nothing in the way of fruit shows so much 

 improvement as the Native Grape. The time is within the 

 memorj' of almost ever}' member of this Board, when the Catawba, 

 the Isabella, and the Clinton were the only varieties of hardy 

 grapes in cultivation. Now more than one hundred and fifty 

 varieties are on the market. To the Old Bay State is due the 

 credit of originating some of the best hardy grapes in cultivation. 

 Of Foreign grapes there were many bunches of the largest size : — 

 one bunch of the Victoria Hamburg weighed seven pounds and 

 eight ounces, and one of the Trebbiano seven pounds and seven 

 ounces. Both were from Mrs. Josiah Lasell, of Whitinsville. 



In greenhouse and stove plants a like improvement is seen since 

 1848. The Camellia, the Orange, the Lemon, and the Acacia 

 have given place to the Croton, the Dracaena, the Alocasia, and 

 Caladiums, with all their various shades of color. The Areca, the 

 Tree Fern, and the stately Palm all combine to make an exhibition 

 of tropical plants of great beautj'. 



The vegetables were all well grown, of the best varieties, and 

 of excellent quality. 



The Annual Chrysanthemum Show of this Society, is one of 

 the most brilliant exhibitions of the year. Of late years the 

 Chrysanthemum has obtained a high position in the favor of the 

 amateur horticulturist. Nor is this surprising ; for the flower 

 expresses its beauty in almost every variety of shade and color. 



Both the upper and lower halls were used for the collection. 

 The principal display was made in the Upper Hall where there was 

 a magnificent array of plants and cut flowers. The platform was 

 arranged as a bank of cut flowers, the rich colors blending in a 

 most gorgeous mass of variegated hues. In the middle of the 

 hall, and on either side, were arranged the exhibits of the various 

 growers. 



The scene from the balcony was a charming one, as from this 

 point the colors stood out in contrast, — the pure white, the deli- 

 cate yellow, the clear lemon tint, or the warm orange hue ; and 

 near by, the pink, red, brown, and all the intermediate shades 

 with the curious combinations of color seen in some varieties. 

 This exhibition surpassed all others in the large number of choice 

 seedlings shown for the first time. 



