REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON" FRUITS. 103 



Mr. Eogers' experiments were more conclusive of the possibility 

 of hybridizing the native with the foreign grape than any previous 

 ones. Althougli the unexpended balance iu the hands of the com- 

 mittee was sufficient to award what they would deem appropriate 

 testimonials to both these gentlemen, they have thought it better 

 that if done it should bij as in similar cases, by vote of the Society ; 

 and they would suggest the appointment of a special committee to 

 consider the propriety of such awards. 



The shows of foreign grapes iu the early part of the season were 

 better than last year, the chief exhibitors being C. S. Holbrook, A. 

 S. Lewis and C. D. Kingman. At the annual exhibition they were 

 fully up to the usual standard both for quantity and quality ; but 

 that standard appears to be far below that of the English cultiva- 

 tors. When we read of a bunch of White Sj^rian weighing 16 lbs. 

 G oz. ; Black Hamburg, 13 lbs. 2 oz. ; and Muscat of Alexandria, 

 5 lbs., and all finely ripened, as at the International P2xhibition at 

 Manchester, England, in September last, we cannot but ask when 

 we shall see such grapes here. Is there any reason why we should 

 not see them ? 



The Mrs. Pince's Muscat, exhibited last year by C. M. Atkinson, 

 gardener to J. L. Gardner, was found to sustain its high character 

 as a late-keeping grape, and received the award of the Society's 

 Silver Medal. 



We have again to express our regret that, with the exception of 

 strawberries, no collections of new fruits have been offered for 

 premium. 



We think it proper here to allude to the exhibition of the Ameri- 

 can Pomological Society, held in our halls the second week in 

 September, when we had also the pleasure of welcoming our friends 

 from abroad, who, one and all, testified that the meeting in every 

 respect was more successful than any previous one. The show of 

 apples from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and other States was such 

 as, for extent and beauty, had never before been seen in Boston ; 

 but the pears, though many fine specimens were shown, especially 

 from western New York, were not, as a whole, so good as at our 

 own exhibition, a week later, and we only regret that more of our 

 friends could not have remained to see it, being confident that all 

 would have been as sui'prised and pleased as were those who did 

 stay. 



