30 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



through the year, and in view of the number of competitors thereat, and the 

 quality of the various fiuits exhibited, tend to prove a continued and unabated 

 interest by cultivators and amateurs in that branch of horticulture that is 

 more particularly under the supervision of the Committee. 



The crop of strawberries was abundant, for a short period, at one time. 

 Some fears were entertained that it might be cut short by a continuance of dry 

 wealher, but these fears were soon dispelled by copious and abundnnt rains, 

 and no check to the growtli and product of this fruit was experienced. The 

 first di^jplay of strawberries was made on June 15th, by several exhibitors, and 

 the last on July 12th, the exhibitions in the interval between these periods 

 having been varied in kinds, excellent in quality, and profuse in quantity. The 

 deficiency that, for the past few years has seemed to exist in the display of 

 this fruit, was this year wholly overcome, without any special means having 

 been resorted to for this purpose. Several varieties new, or of recent produc- 

 tion, have been exhibited the past season, some of native, others of foreign 

 origin; among these may be named Downer's Prolific, Princess Frederick 

 William, Triomphe de Gond, Imperatrice Eugenie, La Constant, Admiral 

 Dundas, Ambrosia, and Emma. Of some of these, the specimens were of 

 great size and beautv. Six berries of the Triomphe de Gand weighed 3 1-20 

 ounces; six of the Imperatrice Eugenie, 4^ ounces; six of La Constant, 4 1-16 

 ounces; and six of Admiral Dundas, 41 ounces. With but two exceptions, 

 of none of the newer varieties exhibited is any description attempted, neither 

 is any expression of opinion with regard to them intended, and this exception 

 is made because these two have each had the attention of cultivators specially 

 called to them. It is not safe to express any decided opmion for or against a 

 new fruit ; a single trial hardly justifies the formation of a deliberate judgment, 

 and an expression of an opinion formed from it, might very probably tend to 

 mislead. The Triomphe de Gand, though new here, has been cultivated for 

 some time and very extensively by the Rev. Mr. Knox, of Pittsburgh, who has 

 commended it very highly ; it is a large berry of good flavor, of a light red 

 color, variable in form, the largest berries being coxco nb shaped, others con- 

 ical, seems to be a strong growing variety, and is said by those who have 

 grown it to be productive. La Constant has been grown for some years 

 by Messrs. llovey, who introduced it, and has been before spoken of in previ- 

 ous reports; it is very large, regularly conically shaped, of a bright red 

 color, and good flavor, also said to be fertile and hardy. In appearance it is 

 certainly most attractive, and a dish of fine berries of this variety, can hardly 

 in beauty be surpassed. Both of these varieties come to us from Belgium, 

 and although the varieties of Belgian origin seem better adapted to this coun- 

 try than those of English parentage, yet it is believed that these, also, when 

 subjected to the test of a general cultivation will be found, for the purposes of 

 American growers, tar interior to those of native origin, and that attempts to 

 introduce them to general cultivation will, as it has done with the fine varie- 

 ties of British origin, terminate in failure. If called upon to express an 



