FRUIT COMMITTEES REPORT. DO 



Mr. Scott, of Brighton, brought forward his new seedling, Lady of the Lake, 

 in considerable quantities. The Committee visited the grounds of Mr. S , 

 who is one of the best and most extensive cultivators of the Strawberry, and 

 saw large beds of this seedling. It is a staminate variety, and seemed to be a 

 good bearer; but Mr. S. said the dry weather had affected the crop. 



Different cultivators have exhibited the past season several Strawberries of 

 recent origin ; among others. Downer's Prolific, Cremont's Perpetual, Bunce's 

 Seedling, Bont6 de St. Julien, Oscar, Austen Seedling, etc., of which for the 

 present, the Committee, feeling doubts as to their adaptation to general cul- 

 tivation, refrain from expressing an opinion. 



In Belmont, where the Strawberry is more extensively cultivated, perhaps, 

 than anywhere else, the growers confine themselves mainly to a few established 

 sorts, depending for their crops upon Hovey's Seedling, with the Jenny Lind, 

 Boston Pine, or Brighton Pine, as a fertilizer; planting them in the proportion 

 of about six of the former to one of the latter, and setting them in single rows 

 about four feet apart, and taking but one crop from the same vines, have new 

 beds every year. It is believed that this is the most economical method of 

 cultivating the Strawberry. The practice of so skilful cultivators as those of 

 Belmont is surely entitled to great consideration. Strawberries were first 

 shown on June 2"2d. 



CURRANTS. 



In an experience of about forty years, the last was, as now remembered, the 

 first and only season in which this fruit seemed to have met with severe injury; 

 but the past, the blossom-budi seemed to have been in a great measure de- 

 stroyed. Still there were some very fine specimens exhibited ; among these. 

 La Versaillaise and Dana's Transparent were conspicuous. Mr. Dana's Currant 

 is very large, of fine flavor, and is, as stated, a great bearer. Those shown 

 were certainly superior. 



There is some confusion in the nomenclature of this fruit, and from the great 

 similarity of the different varieties it is not always easy to distinguish the 

 different sorts, one fiom the other. The Versaillaise has now been cultivated 

 for some years ; it seems to be a distinct variety, and among the most valuable. 

 In Europe it is esteemed one of the best, if not the best sort, grown. 



RASPBERRIES. 



So far as the number of exhibitors is concerned, the exhibitions of Rasp- 

 berries were infeiior the past season ; no entirely new kinds were shown. The 

 Catawissa is now somewhat familiar to cultivators, but does not, judging from 

 the number of exhibitors, seem to have acquired much favor; hardly as much 

 as it deserves. It was shown by Mr. Strong the past season, in considerable 

 quantities, as late as October 18th. To those desirous of prolonging the season 

 for the enjoyment of this fruit, it is thought that the cultivation of this variety 

 may be safely recommended. 

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