EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 299 



but the prizes have been taken M' well-known kinds. The Fran- 

 conia and Cuthbert Raspberries, the Versaillaise Currant, and the 

 Dorchester Blackberry have been the successful competitors. 



At the Annual Exhibition the special premiums offered for the 

 leading varieties among the different classes of fruits were all 

 taken ; and the competition for the regular prizes, especially those 

 for Apples and Pears, was unusually large. These fruits were 

 not of as good size as in some previous years when the crop was 

 not so large. This was especially the case with the Baldwin 

 apple, and this marked difference is hardly accounted for by the 

 abundant crop, as some other varieties equally fruitful attained their 

 normal size, and some kinds have been unusually good. Among 

 the latter the Tompkins King has been remarkably fine, selected 

 fruit of this variety having sold in the market here at five dollars 

 per barrel, and the quantity not being sufficient to supply the 

 demand, even at that price. The whole apple crop the past sea- 

 son has met with ready sale at fairly remunerative prices, the 

 export trade taking the surplus above the demand for the home 

 market ; and at the present time, with the prices constantl}^ tending 

 upward, the supply does not fully meet the demand. 



The display of Pears was fully equal to any made since the 

 present plan of showing single dishes was adopted. The crop 

 was an exceedingly large one ; but it is the testimony of the 

 wholesale fruit dealers that they have not for several years dis- 

 posed of the pear crop more satisfactorily than the past season. 

 Maine, New York, Philadelphia, and portions of Canada have 

 drawn upon the Boston market for a partial supply of this fruit. 

 Nowhere is the pear grown in greater perfection than in the vicin- 

 ity of Boston ; and, should the quantity be increased, the area of 

 consumption may be widely extended. 



Native Grapes have been shown in liberal quantities. A pecu- 

 liar feature of the display at the Annual Exhibition was that but 

 a single dish of Concords was seen, while some of the more 

 uncertain varieties were shown in considerable quantities, and the 

 prizes were all taken. Some extra fine bunches of Niagara were 

 shown by J. P. Hay ward, of Ashby, an extreme northern town 

 bordering on the New Hampshire line. Growers whose vinej'ards 

 were mosth' of the earlier varieties disposed of their fruit at fair 

 prices, but those who grew the Concords and later varieties and 

 let them remain upon the vines, intending to supply the late trade, 



