148 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



first time, we have great hopes for the Cottage, which has been 

 brought forward by Mr. Bull, the originator of the Concord, who 

 believes it, in some respects superior to that variety ; the Rentz 

 also promises well for the future, being quite early. At no pre- 

 vious exhibition of the Society, has so large a display of Rogers' 

 Hybrids appeared, and these grapes attracted considerable at- 

 tention from those interested in grape culture, because notwith- 

 standing the number of years these varieties have been known, 

 there still exists some diversity of opinion with regard to their 

 value. Certain it is that the various numbers retain in a greater 

 or less degree the foxy flavor and hard pulp of the native grape, 

 yet some of them are excellent, and they have these advantages 

 over many other varieties, that they are hardy, generally vigor- 

 ous, giving fruit of large size, and are prolific bearers. Of the 

 red varieties, we should judge No. 3 to be the earliest, although 

 not of the best quality ; in this respect it is excelled by Nos. 15, 

 22 and 28. In our estimation No. 28 is the best variety for this 

 locality, it being both early and of good quality. Of the black 

 varieties Nos. 4, 19, 40 and 44 would be selected as among the 

 best ; the two latter surpassing the others as far as flavor is con- 

 cerned. 



In concluding this Report your Committee would urge upon 

 the members of this Society an increased attention to the culture 

 of the grape, believing as they do that in some parts of our town 

 it could be made a profitable crop. Every person who owns a 

 few rods of land should plant a grape-vine. No branch of hor- 

 ticulture afibrds greater pleasure to the man who wishes to spend 

 S3me of his leisure moments in his garden, than the cultivation 

 of this delicious fruit. It requires a sufficient amount of care 

 and judgment in its cultivation to make it interesting to the cul- 

 tivator, who finds his reward in the beautiful clusters of health- 

 giving fruit, gladdening the eye and cheering the heart. 



L. Stephenson, Jr., Qiairman. 



WOECESTER WEST. 



From the Report of the Committee. 

 Pears. — The pears presented were less numerous in variety 

 than the apples. The list embraced nearly all the kinds worthy 

 of cultivation in this locality. The Bartlett, always at the head, 



