REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 29 



July is analogous to the pruning back of a rosebush in April, tending 

 directly to develop vigor in the plant, in its new second groAvth. 



In brief we may say that owing to frequent and copious rains, (the 

 great essential,) the Strawberry crop was large and fine, averaging in 

 l^rice to the producer, at the Boston market, about eighteen cents per 

 quart, and that good cultivators estimate that, at present prices for 

 labor, the productive kinds are profitable at fifteen cents per quart. 

 The Jucunda is now prominent as a market kind, under hill culture, and 

 is more productive, though not equal in quality to the Triomphe de 

 Gaud. With the next season the President Wilder will enter for 

 competition. We hope it may prove worthy of its name. 



Cherries. — The first prize was awarded to the Downer's Late, a 

 most valuable variety, when we consider its hardiness, productiveness, 

 and juicy, spirited quality. 



Currants. — This fruit was seriously afiected by the Currant worm, 

 a most destructive pest, but fortunately one that can be easily kej^t down 

 hy early and frequent application of powdered hellebore. No new 

 varieties have been exhilnted. The first prize, as heretofore, was 

 awarded to La Yersaillaise as the finest red, and to the Dana as the 

 largest and finest white. Both of these are more acid than the Red and 

 White Dutch. 



Raspberries. — The Northumberland Fillbasket took the first prize, 

 and is regarded as a large, productive and excellent market variety. 

 Fine samples of the Hornet, and also of our old favorite, the Franconia, 

 were also exhibited. We can add nothing new respecting the Clark. 



Blackberries. — The good opinion heretofore expressed respecting 

 Wilson's Early is fully maintained. On account of earliness, hardiness, 

 extra size and productiveness, it will probably rank as the most desirable 

 kind, though it is not equal to the Dorchester in quality. The Missouri 

 Mammoth is a worthless imposition. Wachuset Thornless and Sable 

 Queen do not, in the opinion of your Committee, appear to be equal to 

 other kinds which we now have. 



Peaches. — As usual, we have had a large number of Seedlings, 

 many of which were equal to, or better than our named kinds. Miss 

 Kenrick presented a seedling, July 30th, which was probably prema- 

 ture. August 13th, an excellent seedling, of the Early Crawford type, 

 was sent in by Dr. Waters; and another, from Davis & Bates, ap- 

 peared to be fully equal to and larger than the Cooledge. Quite a num- 

 ber of other good seedlings have given additional jjroof of the advantage 

 of raising this fruit from the seed, and also of giving to it a slower and 

 more hardy growth than is usual with budded kinds. It is undoubtedly 

 true that in most cases Peaches have been forced forward too rapidly, 

 so much so, that the fruit buds, and even the rank wood is unable to en- 

 dure the severe test of our winters. It is the opinion of some of our 



