EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 93 



ever placed upon our tables. Rather irregular and cockscombed 

 iu shape, dark red, somewhat deficient in flavor, but with no bad 

 taste. From the trusses of fruit exhibited, and from the state- 

 ment of Mrs. S. Joyce, who had seen it in bearing, it would appear 

 to be very productive. It has a perfect flower. Several seedlings 

 were exhibited by Marshall P. Wilder, but none considered by 

 him equal to the President Wilder, which maintains its position for 

 beauty of form and color, as well as high quality. We ought not 

 to omit to chronicle the appearance, on the 25th of October, of a 

 small basket of Jucunda strawberries. They were placed on our 

 tables by Marshall P. Wilder, to whom tliey were presented by the 

 grower, S. G. Damon. 



Cherries. — Besides the Black Eagle, Black Tartarian, and 

 Downer, which, as in previous years, have taken a majority of 

 prizes, several other fine kinds, less frequently seen, have been 

 exhibited. A very handsome dish of the Bigarreau was shown by C. 

 F. Curtis ; the true Ox Heart, a large, pointed, heart-shaped variety 

 of good quality, by J. E. M. Gilley ; the Walsh, very large, late, and 

 of good quality, by Galen Mei-riam ; and on the 2d of August the 

 Peirce, of fine quality, and valuable for its lateness, by Marshall 

 P. Wilder. J. H. Fenno's seedling, " Norfolk," did not impress the 

 committee as favorably as last year, being in the way of Downer, 

 but inferior to it. A seedling was also shown by C. E. Grant, of 

 good size and fine quality, but so much like Downer as to be 

 hardly worthy of cultivation as a distinct variety. As before 

 remarked, the cherry crop was the most abundant that has been 

 known for many years, and owing to the dry weather, was gathered 

 in excellent condition. 



Currants, owing probably to the dry season, were not so largely 

 shown as the previous year. As heretofore, the Versai liaise and 

 Dana's Transparent stand at the head of the list. Though the 

 Versaillaise is inferior in quality to the Red Dutch, its greater size 

 renders it more valuable for market ; but we would still recommend 

 the Red Dutch for private gardens. 



Gooseberries, like the currant, to which they are so closely 

 allied, have been less plentiful than in the previous year, and prob- 

 ably for tho same reason. Of natives, Downing's, Smith's, and 

 Houghton's seedlings continue to stand first, and in the order 

 named. The only foreign gooseberry shown was a dish of fine 

 specimens of Crown Bob from B. G. Smith. Of very long, oval 



