REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS 

 FOR THE YEAR 1917. 



By Edward B. Wilder, Chairman. 



The year has seemed to be out of season or we 'might say erratic 

 from the standpoint of the fruit grower. 



The Spring was very late, the Summer comparatively cool, 

 and the usual heat for the first ten to fifteen days of September, 

 so much needed for maturing the crops, was lacking. 



The scheduled exhibitions of fruit have, however, been held, 

 though sometimes the dates have been changed or the shows 

 extended because of the conditions already referred to. 



The Rose, Peony, and Strawberry Exhibition was postponed 

 from June 23-24 to June 30- July 1 and entries not made on the 

 latter dates were admitted at a Special Show, July 7-8. Consider- 

 ing the season there was a good display of berries, the arrangement 

 of the fruit with its own foliage on the plates of the Society, still 

 growing in favor with the people. 



The Silver Medal for the best new strawberry of merit not yet 

 introduced was awarded to Dr. Frederick S. De Lue of Needham 

 for a seedling named Venia. Dr. De Lue says "this strawberry 

 is medium early, very prolific, having a long season, and holding 

 its size to the last." 



The lateness of the season caused the postponement of the 

 fruit exhibit at the Sweet Pea Exhibition from July 7-8 to July 21. 

 The lack of peaches at the Dahlia and Fruit Exhibition, September 

 8-9, was very noticeable, entries being made in only two classes. 



The event of the year was the Special Exhibition of Fruits, 

 October 31-November 4, in conjunction with the Biennial Exhibi- 

 tions of the American Pomological Society and the New England 

 Fruit Show. 



All the halls were used for exhibition purposes, the lectures and 

 discussions being held in the hall in the basement. Eminent po- 



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