76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES, 



For the Year 1861. 

 BY DANIEL T. CURTIS, CHAIRMAN. 



The present season has been singularly unfavorable to vegetable growth, 

 and especially to that department embraced in this report. Early and long- 

 continued drouth and an uncommonly cold season tended to keep back the 

 growth of early vegetables; the unhappy state of the country, too, distracted 

 the cultivator's mind with an uncertainty as to the value of his products, 

 which lessened the aggregate labor of the farm and the garden ; and to this 

 must be added, the appointment of premiums for the weekly exhibitions came 

 a week too early for the peculiarity of the time and season. 



Taking, however, all these untoward circumstances into consideration, our 

 contributors deserve more than usual praise for their continued exertions and 

 remarkable success, considering the obstacles. 



The new Tree Tomato, for the first time placed on the tables at the weekly 

 exhibitions by G. G. Hubbard, Esq., is one that seems to possess the following 

 superior qualities : the color is bright clear scarlet, shape very perfect, flesh 

 solid and of excellent flavor, fruit growing in rich heavy clusters on a tree- 

 like form. It must naturally be earlier, and much more ornamental to the 

 kitchen garden if well cultivated and strongly staked, than the older varieties. 

 Your Committee must truly commend it for cultivation. 



The new Scarlet Egg Plant, introduced from France, grown by Mr. James 

 McTear, and placed on the tables for the first time this season, was indeed a 

 beautiful and ornamental variety ; though possessing no merit for culinary 

 purposes, (except perhaps for garnishing dishes,) it ripened some of the most 

 brilliant and rich scarlet fruit we ever have seen. It should find a place wher- 

 ever an ornameni, in the kitchen garden is desired, as we know nothing that 

 can surpass it in color and attraction. It being new, and but little known of 

 the beauty and durability of its fruit, it did not receive the attention it merited ; 

 consequently the fruits exhibited were not so large and fair as we may expect 

 to see another season. 



We have reason to feel well satisfied with the general quality of the speci- 

 mens exhibited, which was considerably better than was anticipated during 

 the early part of the season. 



The money appropriated has been, we hope, judiciously awarded in prem- 

 iums and gratuities. 



The Annual Exhibition has rarely, if it has ever, been exceeded for supe- 

 riority of the esculent roots placed on our tables. Those who had the satis- 

 faction of seeing the products offered, must have felt assured that the interest 

 in the vegetable department has not diminished. 



