INAUGURAL MEETING 13 



to stimulate the waning interest in pear culture. Much has been 

 said of late about apples, but I have noticed little, if anything, 

 about pears. I believe there are only about three or four places 

 in Boston where one can find for sale a variety of pears. Why is 

 it so? Over in New York you find good pears in almost all the 

 fruit stores, and they appear to be much sought after. I truly 

 believe there is as much, if not more, money in raising good pears 

 as in apples. 



In reading the account of the Shows held during the first fifty 

 years of our Society life, I was much impressed with the account 

 of the fruit exhibits and especially of the pears; for example, at 

 the fair held in 1871, Mr. Marshall P. Wilder was awarded a prize 

 for 42 new varieties of pears. At our recent shows, I doubt if there 

 have been 25 different varieties of pears exhibited. In the 1875 

 show, there were six hundred seventy-nine (679) dishes of pears 

 and one hundred and seventy (170) of apples. 



I look forward to the coming year with bright expectations for 

 our Society and I ask the cooperation of our various committees 

 and our active members to help in every way they can to make 

 our Shows and our efforts in other directions successful in their 

 results. 



At the close of his address the President called for the annual 

 reports of the officers and chairmen of committees which were given 

 in the following order: 



Report of the Treasurer, Walter Hunnewell. 



Report of the Board of Trustees, by the Secretary. 



Report of the Committee on Prizes and Exhibitions, James 

 W^heeler, Chairman. 



Report of the Committee on Plants and Flowers, T. D. Hatfield, 

 Chairman. 



Report of the Committee on Fruits, Edward B, Wilder, Chairman. 



Report of the Committee on Vegetables, Duncan Finlayson, 

 Chairman. 



Report of the Committee on Gardens, John K. M. L. Farquhar, 

 Chairman. 



Report of the Committee on Children's Gardens, Henry S. 

 Adams, Chairman. 



