2) MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



twilled to less proportions than with a warmer and dryer condition of 

 tlie roots. It is undoubtedly true that our Apple and our Pear crop 

 w.iH hastened in maturity l)y the heat and drought, that in some soils it 

 did not attain its full size, and that with many kinds, as for example the 

 Winter Nelis Pear, there is an unusual tendenc}' to decay, yet it is also 

 safe to say that the evil results are by no means as great as we might 

 have anticipated from the extraordinary causes. Even of the Apple 

 and the Pear we may say that we have had an abundant supply. For 

 the Grape we all admit the season to have been perfect. The buds 

 started earlier bj' reason of the mildness of the winter. The nioisture 

 of earlj' summer insured vigor. The dry, even heat of Augubt and 

 September ripened the fruit to perfection, teaching us, as plainl}' as mute 

 nature can teach, that dry heat is most desirable for the ripening of the 

 Grape. We cannot make the seasons, but we can select a warm south 

 slope, well drained and receiving the hot reflection from a sheet of water 

 in front. In short we can so study and imitate the conditions of success 

 as to be almost independent of the varjing seasons. We turn now to 

 »ctu!il results. 



Forced Strawberries were the first fruit of the season, tine specimens of 

 Triomphe de Gand being on our tables, March 19th and 2Gth. This is 

 deservedly the most popular variety for this purpose. The usual method 

 is to lay the jirH runners, in July, into thumb pots and by shifting into 

 larger pots and by utmost culture, to obtain large and fat crowns in 

 October. With such condition and fair management a large crop is 

 sure to follow. An experiment by Mr. O. C. Gibbs of West Newton 

 is worthy of note, in this connection. Taking advantage of the mild 

 weather in Janiiary last, Mr. Gibbs lifted some large stools from the 

 open ground and placed them in boxes and pots, for immediate forcing. 

 Your Chairman saw the crop as it was maturing in April, the result 

 being a remarkable success, as large a crop as the largest in open 

 culture, single stools in boxes, twelve inches square and seven inches 

 deep, yielding over 150 perfect berries. How short the experiment, how 

 trifling the cost, and how abundant and delightful the result! No other 

 fruit requires so short time in i)reparation, is so easily forced, occupies 

 BO little space and comes to maturity so quickly. It would seem that 

 the cost of preparation of plants f )r forcing might be greatly reduced by 

 l)lanting rows in the spring, hoeing and cutting ofl" all runners, and thus 

 obtaining the largest crowns of an entire season's growth; much larger 

 and consefjiiently Tiiore prolific than July runners could be made to be. 

 These stools could be lifted after the autumn frosts, the last thing, before 

 the ground closes, and potted away to rest until the Ist of Janiiary. 

 ♦So easy, inexpensive and certain is this process that we hope to see a 

 more general culture of this fruit in our greenhouses, and even among 

 our window plants. For, in jioint of beauty and interest, what can 



