96 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



President "Wilder, whose zeal in this good work might well be emu- 

 lated b}' the 30unger members of the vSociety. "While we do not 

 wish to see again the collection shown in former years of hundreds 

 of varieties, it would seem that among our numerous members 

 there should be those who would be interested in testing and ex- 

 hibiting, so as to show the fitness or unfitness for our gardens, of 

 such novelties as are from time to time recommended. 



The Committee regret that they have been obliged to disqualify 

 several otherwise worthj' collections of fruit on account of one or 

 more varieties included in them, being incorrectly named, but 

 they deem the correct nomenclature of fruits a matter of the high- 

 est importance, and the rule on this subject is imperative. 



In regard to one other subject, mentioned in the report for 1871, 

 viz. : the awarding of prizes to fine specimens of varieties not 

 adapted to general cultivation, the Committee would say that fur- 

 ther consideration has so impressed them with the danger of mis- 

 leading novices by such awards, that they have felt constrained to 

 recommend a change of the rule, so as to make adaptation to 

 general cultivation an indispensable requisite to the award of a 

 prize, and this recommendation has been adopted b\' the Committee 

 for establishing premiums, but they would still recognize the skill 

 which produces superior specimens of fruits, which do not flourish 

 in all situations, by appropriate gratuities. 



This report is respectfully submitted by the Committee, as con- 

 taining, with the list of prizes and gratuities, a full account of their 

 doings for the 3'ear 1872. 



Robert Manning, 

 P. Brown Hovey, 

 Heuvey Davis, 

 John M. Merrick, 

 Frederick Clapp, 

 John B. Moore, 

 Joseph T, Walker 



Committee 



on 



Fncits. 



