REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 31 



behind the cultivators of other places in introducing and testing 

 new kinds. We know that the varieties of superior merit will be 

 l)ntfew; but the chance of finding even one should be sufficient 

 inducement to test every novelty of promise. 



It seems proper here to mention the interesting discussion on 

 the strawberry, held on the 21st of June, the second day of the 

 Strawberry Show : this was the first attempt at such a meeting, 

 and gave much satisfaction, both in itself, and in the encour- 

 agement which it afforded of similar meetings in the future. The 

 ]jrincipal practical point developed was the advantage of mowing 

 down the leaves after the crop is gathered. This operation appears 

 to be analogous in principle to heading down a tree. The plant 

 having finished the work of the season, and being about to com- 

 mence a new one, a salutary stimulus is given to it by removing 

 the old and useless, and perhaps fungus-eaten foliage. We may 

 add, that one of the most successful growers of strawberries in this 

 State says, that, in his opinion, the practice of mowing ofi'the vines 

 after taking ofi:' a crop of fruit is the most important advance in 

 strawberry-culture that has been made for twenty-five years. He 

 farther says, that no one can afford to raise strawberries on the 

 annual system when the new method becomes established. 



Cherries. — The season for this fruit, which, it was feared, was 

 going the way of the plum, has been decidedly better than any 

 since 1860; tlie injury to the trees, from which they are now recov- 

 ering, having been experienced in 1861. As before remarked, the 

 fruit was entirely free from the larvte of the curculio, free from rot, 

 and of fine quality. Owing to the ill success of this fruit for the 

 last ten years, comparatively little interest has been felt in it, and 

 consequently many of the specinaens shown were unknown varie- 

 ties or seedlings. The first two prizes for the best single dish 

 were awarded to that old favorite, the Black Eagle; and the first 

 ])rize for the best collection to Napoleon Bigarreau, Black Eagle, 

 Black Tartarian, and Elton. The Napoleon, though undoubtedly 

 the largest and handsomest of all, cannot be recommended, as it is 

 more liable than any other to rot in damp weather; and the ex- 

 cessive firmness of its flesh is not pleasant, nor, it is believed, even 

 wholesome. Good specimens of the Florence, one of the finest 

 white cherries, were shown. 



Currants. — The Versaillaise has again taken all the prizes as a 

 red currant. Those for white were given to Dana's Transparent 

 and White Dutch ; the former being first. Among the collections 

 shown were several new varieties, but none superior or even equal 



