EVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EX- 

 HIBITION. 



The annual show of this association took place 

 last week. The show of flowers and plants was very- 

 good, but there was no arrangement to go into this 

 branch extensively, and of course but little attention 

 was paid to it ; the floral designs, however, were fine, 

 and formed an important feature in the exhibition. 



There was a noble display of fruits, particularly of 

 apples and pears ; of the latter there was a much 

 better show than we expected, considering the un- 

 favorable season for this fruit, which caused it to 

 blast and crack more than usual ; and where these 

 evils have not happened, the fruit is frequently of 

 inferior appearance. Notwithstanding these disad- 

 vantages, there was not only an extensive, but a very 

 good show of pears, the natural result of the perse- 

 vering efforts of many cultivators in trying numerous 

 varieties, and having them in various soils and loca- 

 tions. 



Some varieties of pears have nearly failed of a crop 

 this season, and others, though rather productive, 

 arc very small and inferior in quality, owing to an 

 unfavorable season for this rather uncertain fruit. 

 We have had blasting storms while the trees were in 

 blossom, and while the fruit was tender; and the 

 season has generally been cool, and unfavorable to 

 pears, many of which require a warm season to bring 

 them to perfection. There were several new vari- 

 eties, of very promising appeaxanco. 



The exhibition of apples was rather extensive, and 

 the fruit remarkably large and fair. Among them 

 were several plates of new varieties, of fine appear- 

 ance, but of whose real merit we have not had an 

 opportunity for definite information. We now have 

 so large a list of excellent apples, adapted to all 

 seasons of the year, that now kinds should be intro- 

 duced for general culture with caution. Such only 

 as have advantages over those now in use, of the 

 same season, should be encouraged. 



The show of peaches was not large, but there 

 were several lots of very fine apj)earance. 



The quantity of plums was rather small, but there 

 were some new and valuable kinds. 



There were very few grapes of out-door pro- 

 duction, but those raised under glass were very 

 fine. 



The show of vegetables was excellent, but not 

 very extensive. There was a deficiency in potatoes, 

 owing to the rot. We planted over one hundred 

 varieties, and they were nearly all destroyed, so that 

 we could not get sound ones enough to make a re- 

 spectable show. 



The exhibition was attended by a largo number of 

 visitors, who seemed highly delighted with it. This 

 society is in a very prosperous condition ; and though 

 awarding numcrou.s liberal premiums, medals, and 

 gratuities, it is still accumulating funds. 



MECHANICS' FAIR. 



The sixth exhibition of the Massachusetts Me- 

 chanic Charitable Association opened on the 11th 

 inst. It is held in Faneuil and Quincy Halls, which 

 are connected by a neat bridge of novel construction, 

 built by Henry I>ancrgan, of Boston. Those spa- 

 cious halls are wcU-fillcd with the very best produc- 

 tions of mechanical skill of almost every description. 

 This show is not distinguished for a large number of 

 new inventions, but a prominent feature is the supe- 

 rior design and skilful execution of a vast number 

 of productions, wliich gives it a peculiar richness and 

 splendor, never before excelled, and probably never 

 equalled in any former exhibitions of this associa- 

 tion, or any other in the country. 



This fair is noted for a great variety of articles of 

 decided necessity, convenience, and comfort, as well 

 as of ta.stc, luxury, style, and fancy. Tlie agricul- 

 tural implements hold a prominent and respectable 

 place. In design, workmanship, neatness, and fine 

 finish, they vie with the best articles in the exhibi- 

 tion. 



The whole show is a grand specimen of tlie inge- 

 nuity, skill, enterprise, intolligcnco, and industry of 

 our New England people, and marks this emphat- 

 ically as the age of improvement, and this as the 

 peculiarly favored land of industry, skill, and enter- 

 priae. 



