44 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and of superior flavor, in other respects it has hardly come up to general ex- 

 pectation as a profitable variety for market cuUnre. But whether this failure 

 is to be attributed to a want of experience and skill in managing the plants in 

 their early stages, or to the circumstance that our New England summer is too 

 brief to bring it to maturity, it is certain that among us it has not equalled in 

 productiveness the older and established varieties. 



The new Scarlet Egg Plant was shown by several contributors and has been 

 much admired. Its brilliant color alone must render it valuable as a garden 

 ornament, and for garnishing purposes there can be nothing in the whole 

 range of vegetable products more showy and beautiful. 



The specimens of early cabbage exhibited in the beginning of the season 

 were of remarkable excellence, and have seldom, if ever, been excelled in 

 weight, solidity, and perfection of growth. 



The frosts of May and June, in some of the suburban towns, did consider- 

 able injury to the early succulent plants, and so much retarded their growth, 

 that not being sufficiently matured to meet the requirements of the schedule, 

 they were not offered for the Society's premiums. This was particularly the 

 case with beans, peas, and cauliflowers, the last of which have produced but 

 indifferent crops as compared to those of former seasons. 



Favored by the abundant moisture prevailing throughout the season the root 

 crops have been generally above the average standard both as to quantity and 

 quality ; the samples of all kinds contributed to the Society's Exhibitions, as 

 well as the general stocks in the market, being of handsome proportions, fair 

 surface and sound texture. 



During the last few years a great improvement has been noted in the carrot 

 crop, which is, perhaps, in a great measure attributable to the recent introduc- 

 tion of new varieties from France and England. Much more attention is now 

 given to the culture of this vegetable than heretofore, as it enters largely into 

 general consumption, both for stock raising and culinary purposes. We know 

 of no class of domestic animals that is not vastly and rapidly improved in 

 being fed on this crop, and it is understood that eminent French physicians 

 commend it highly, and prescribe it with the most beneficial results, as a 

 medicinal diet for billious and intestinal diseases. 



Our Annual Exhibition was as satisfactory as could have been expected 

 under the circumstances, considering that the chief interest of the occa- 

 sion, as governed by the specialty of the season, centred in the fruit depart- 

 ment. Indeed, so overburdened were the hands of the principal contributors 

 with their fruit specimens, that they generally found it impossible to bestow 

 even a small share of their time and attention upou the vegetable department, 

 which was consequently dependent in a great measure, for its interest, upon 

 the efforts of new and chance exhibitors. Nevertheless, the displ.iy in this 

 latter department was far from being meagre or unattractive, and was highly 

 creditable to the agricultural skill jnd enterprise of this section of the country. 

 But your Committee may be allowed to hint in passing, that the space in 



