REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OX FRUITS. 233 



season and the pear continues to be less subject to injury from 

 insect pests than most of our fruits. 



The Peach crop, the past season, has been the largest for many 

 years ; the fruit buds were not so badly killed during the winter 

 as in previous seasons, and there have been good exhibitions of this 

 fruit. Cherries have been shown in less quantity than usual 

 because of late frosts in some localities and rain at the time of 

 ripening. There have been fair exhibits of Plums and the recent 

 introduction of Japanese varieties has caused an increased 

 interest in the cultivation of this fruit. There are several 

 varieties of good quality that seem well adapted to our soil and 

 climate ; they are being tested and we shall ere long be able to 

 speak more definitely of their practical value. 



The fungous and insect enemies of fruit, where undisturbed, 

 have done the usual amount of injury, but further experience 

 seems to prove that the damage from these pests may be prevented 

 or very much reduced by careful and systematic spraying. The 

 tent caterpillar has not been as numerous as in recent years but 

 the canker worm in some localities destroyed all prospects of a 

 crop, and the ever present codling moth was as numerous as in any 

 previous year, and as the crop of fruit was small a larger propor- 

 tion than usual bore evidence of his destructive work. 



There have been few new fruits shown the past year requiring 

 special mention. The Alice grape, a white variety, from Ward 

 D. Guun. of Cliftondale. N. Y., was deemed of so much promise 

 that the Committee awarded a First Class Certificate of Merit to 

 the originator. Liberal prizes have been offered by Ex-President 

 Strong the past two years for varieties of Strawberries not 

 previously exhibited, but the competition has not shown anything 

 having as many points of excellence as varieties already in general 

 cultivation. Of recent introductions, the Mackintosh Apple is 

 promising ; it is of good quality, bright red in color, slightly 

 below medium size, and an excellent fruit for the table. At the 

 Annual Exhibition, October 2 and 3, William C Clapp, of 

 Dorchester, showed the seedling pear Harris, which was then 

 in perfect condition. It was of medium size and excellent 

 quality and seemed to the Committee worthy of cultivation. The 

 Marshall Strawberry easily took the lead as an exhibition berry, 

 and its large size, good quality, and perfect form and color 

 recommend it for the amateur, but the plants having been sold in 



