REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OJV FRUITS. 29 



small numbers by Mr. Leightoii ; but if it should increase, as is to 

 be feared, it will do great mischief to our pear-orchards. 



The currant-worm has continued to increase, having, in neglected 

 gardens, completely stripped the foliage from the bushes; and 

 threatens, unless energetic measures are taken to jirevent it, to 

 destroy the crop of this most valuable fruit. Hellebore is undoubt- 

 edly an effectual remedy ; but as the greatly-inci'eased demand 

 has raised the price, at the same time inducing its adulteration, we 

 recommend a solution of whale-oil soap with the addition of kero- 

 sene-oil, which has proved efficacious : and all bushes which cannot 

 be properly cared for should be at once uprooted, so as not to 

 afford food and shelter to the worm. Carbolate of lime, in pow- 

 der, has been used in many cases with good effect. When the 

 worm is just making its apjiearauce, a careful search for the ecjos, 

 and burning them, is the easiest remedy. 



The first fruit of the season was the Triomphe de Gand straw- 

 berry, exhibited by Mr. Richard Oldreive on the 25th of February, 

 — nearly a month earlier than the first shown the previous season. 

 On the 18th of March, Mr. James Comley exhibited President 

 Wilder strawberries with the usual fine shape and color of that 

 variet}^, — far superior to Triomphe, — as well as fine flavored. 

 Mr. Comley's experiment was with only a few plants, and those not 

 strong ones ; so that it is not decisive as to the value of this kind 

 for forcing ; but it is regarded as promising, every flower having 

 produced a berry. We regret that the improvement in the exhibi- 

 tion of other forced fruits hoped for in our last Report, in which a 

 decline from previous years was noted, has not been realized. 



Strawberries. — The first exhibition of out-door strawberries 

 was on the 10th of June; all the prizes having been awarded for 

 specimens of Jenny Lind. Though this variety is of excellent 

 quality, it is but moderately jiroductive ; and a variety as early, but 

 producing a better crop, is a desideratum. Such a one, it is hoped, 

 may be found in one of the seedlings shown by /Dapt. J. B. Moore, 

 and designated by him No. 1. On the 10th of June, specimens 

 were exhibited, which were noted as of good size, conical form, 

 deep scarlet, polished surface, solid flesh, and quality fully equal to 

 Jenny Lind. On the 20th, specimens were again exhibited, which 

 were thought to be of better quality than Hovey's Seedling. It 

 is said by Capt. Moore to be quite as early as Jenny Lind, but far 

 more productive, and to keep remarkably well. ' Of this last quality 

 the Committee had evidence in specimens exhibited as late as the 

 Ist of July, which confirmed the high opinion jDreviously formed. 



