1882.] TKANSACTlOSrS. T 



mentioned, may be warranted. The Fruit crop of 1883, will be 

 of interest, as well because of its intrinsic value, as from the 

 light, however dim, which may be reflected upon a matter now 

 veiled in dense obscurity. The gain would be incalculable, could 

 we but discover some method of equalizing the harvests ; diffus- 

 ing or dispersing them, so to speak, that all might be years of 

 plenty and not as at present, the alternative of glut or destitu- 

 tion. 



Throughout such a season were your Weekly Exhibitions 

 continued, without interruption ; until their recent termination at 

 the close of the ofiicial year. It would be idle to deny, were it 

 worth the wliile, that they have been somewhat unfavorably 

 affected i)y the abnormal weather. The extreme frosts, borne 

 upon piercing winds; and the lack of snow, when most required 

 for a protection ; were fatal to many flourishing plantations of 

 Strawberries, whereof a great many were wholly winter-killed. 

 To those who may urge that reliance should not be placed in 

 snow, for any such safeguard ; the reply is apt that, when 

 artificial covering is employed, the super-position of a heavy snow 

 is sure to smother. Either method of precaution may be wise ; 

 the chances will have to be taken, whichever is selected. What 

 plants did survive, aided by propitious and timely rains, were 

 healthy and prolific. Drought supervened to cut short the yield 

 that, commencing late, would otherwise have been unusually 

 protracted. 



To that cause was due the almost total failure of the Kasp- 

 berry. Many varieties, solicited in your schedule, were not 

 shown at all : some, possibly, because going out of cultivation 

 with or without reason ; but tlie most from the arid fact that 

 their berries had dried upon the canes. Of Brinckle's Orange, 

 that never before failed the writer, he was unable to gather a 

 pint in all the summer. From Hornet and Northumberland, he 

 got a scant quarter of their ordinary crop. Other and more 

 extensive cultivators were scarcely more fortunate : serious losses 

 being thus occasioned to those who might reasonably anticipate a 

 fair return from their investment and labor. 



The display of Currants, upon our tables, was unusually fine. 

 But it began and ended there. As the fruit was forming, rains 



