66 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



BLACKBERRIES 



Suffered severely the past season, and were only exhibited in comparatively 

 small quantities. The canes, when grown luxuriantly, are apt to be killed in 

 winter, and need protection. 



CHERRIES. 



A single Cherry from Randolph, and a small branch with half a dozen black 

 mazards from Newburyport, were the only cherries, grown in the open air, ex- 

 hibited. The crop was entirely destroyed. Early in the spring the fruit-buds 

 looked well, but when the blossoms expanded it was found that the germ of 

 the fruit was wholly destroyed, and that only the petals of the flowers opened. 

 The injury was not confined to the flower-buds, but extended to those of the 

 leaf also, trees showing in most cases no foliage till late in the season, and 

 then scantily. For some years the Cherry appears to have been failing, and 

 will not probably immediately recover from the effects of the past winter. 



PEACHES. 



There were no Peaches the past year. The trees suffered severely ; in 

 many instances old trees were killed entirely, and younger ones in their new 

 growth. 



PEARS. 



The crop of Pears was very far below an average, but this was to some 

 extent compensated by the quality of the fruit produced ; that, with respect to 

 some varieties, was superior to any before noticed. In the later exhibitions of 

 this fruit, especially, the specimens were exceedingly fine and beautiful. The 

 character of the past season, measurably free from great and sudden alterna- 

 tions of heat and cold; exemption from severe drought, with a long succession 

 of genial warm weather; has been favorable to the production of this fruit, in 

 its highest perfection. The Urbaniste, Marie Louise, Belle Lucrative, Beurre 

 d'Anjou, Beurr^^ Langeller, Glout Morceau, Josephine de Malines, with some 

 others, have been peculiarly large, fine, and beautiful. 



The fall, too, was of a very favorable character to the trees, warm, dry, and 

 free from early frosts, ripening the new wood thoroughly. It was noticeable 

 that there was little or no second growth on the Pears the past year, that which, 

 from its immature state, is most apt to be injured. As has been previously 

 stated, Pear trees were very much injured the past winter, in many instances 

 of some kinds particularly, killed or seriously hurt. No new varieties, or such 

 as have not previously been reported on, have been submitted to the Com- 

 mittee. 



