292 Notes and Gleajiings. 



Massachusetts Horticultural Society. — The Annual Report of the 

 Fruit Committee, by W. C. Strong, chairman, is, as usual, of great interest. 

 We publish a portion below, and shall give the remainder in our next number : — 



" It seems to be a wise custom, in connection with our list of premiums 

 awarded, also to place upon record the fresh experience of the year, and to add 

 such suggestions as may have been gathered by the peculiarities of the season. 

 Such records, covering a long series of years, would form a practical basis, from 

 which alone safe theories might be constructed. We are not accustomed to 

 make such extended observations, or enter so much into detail, as might be de- 

 sirable, in order fully to attain the result spoken of; yet the brief and general 

 survey of the year may be of some service to this end. 



'•The winter of 1867-68 was more than usually severe ; and in many places 

 the Bartlett Pear, for example, was seriously injured ; and this, as also some 

 other varieties, blackened and died in midsummer from the effect of the winter's 

 cold. In some cases, also, the more hardy kinds of grapes were winter-killed. 

 In addition, the spring proved to be extraordinarily backward, so much so, 

 that, on the ist of June, it was thought that the grape-crop would not ripen. 

 The whole period covering the blossoming of the peach, cherry, pear, and 

 apple, was also excessively wet. As a consequence, many varieties did not set a 

 sufficient quantity of fruit. Still, the profusion of bloom, which was quite marked, 

 especially with the apple, prevented any serious lack. We may say, then, that 

 the prospect for fruit on the ist of June was by no means flattering. Yet the 

 result which crowns a year of such adverse circumstances should give renewed 

 confidence in the success of fruit-culture in our section. 



" The experience of the year teaches the importance of securing every con- 

 dition to success for each variety of fruit. It is observed that the farmer who 

 enriches his fields with a plentiful supply of stable-manure is seldom heard to 

 complain of drought ; and, if his land is well underlaid with tiles, he talks very 

 little about excessive wet. He is, to a degree, independent of extremes : all 

 seasons are good seasons to him. So with the fruit-culturist : let him secure all 

 possible conditions, and he is measurably independent of circumstances ; the ad- 

 verse seasons even proving a benefit to him, because of the enhanced price of 

 his fruits. As an illustration, take the case of Mr. Daniel Clark of Waltham. who 

 exhibited as fine specimens of Concord Grapes as can ever be found in the most 

 favored seasons, in the best sections for the vine. These were grown in open 

 culture, without any protection except a ledge of rock for a trellis ; were fully 

 ripe Sept. 11; and were so superb as to be in demand at three times the ordinary 

 price ot grapes. Here is a result in one of tlie most adverse years ever expe- 

 rienced with the grape ; the time of ripening being also advanced, at least ten 

 days from the average of years. 



" It will be said that the situation was peculiarly favorable. Precisely so ; and 

 this is the point we wish to bring to notice. These peculiarly favorable condi- 

 tions should engage the constant attention of the culturist. These are syno- 

 nymes of success. Peculiarly favorable situations make the price of the vine- 

 yards of the Rhine to reach a point, which, to an American cultivator, would seem 

 quite extravagant. The Langon, St. Julien Vineyard of a hundred acres, sold 



