FRUIT committee's REPORT. 29 



in its objects, sufficiently powerful to prevent any falling off in the exhibi- 

 tions of this Society. 



There has been several new varieties of fruit exhibited during the past 

 season, consisting principally of pears and grapes; the attempt at producing 

 new improved varieties of fruit from seed having, for several years, occupied the 

 attention of some cultivators. To all such, this has at least, if nothing else, 

 furnished a pleasant occupation, a constant source of interest being afforded 

 in the care and watching of the young plant from the first germination of the 

 seed to the production of fruit by the mature tree, while in several instances 

 these attempts have been crowned with, if not entire, certainly a reasonable 

 degree of success. Among the members of this Society who have been 

 most engaged in these attempts, and who have been among the most success- 

 ful therein with pears, Messrs. Francis Dana, Frederick Clapp, and more 

 recently Dr. S. A. ShurtlefF, may be instanced ; and with grapes, Messrs. J. 

 F. Allen, and E. A. Brackett ; each of these gentlemen having succeeded in 

 raising new varieties from seed that promise to be valuable. Among others, 

 Dr. ShurtlefF exhibited, on September 5th, a new pear named General Banks, 

 of its first year ; it was of medium size, round form, with a long stem, color 

 yellow, and red in the sun ; it was a little gritty about the core, but melting, 

 juicy, and of good flavor; and another, called by him General Rosecrans, 

 that was of medium size, pyriform shape, green color, with a rather thick 

 skin, its flesh fine-grained, melting, juicy, of a subacid flavor, it also being of 

 the first year of bearing ; and on 12th September, one named Admiral Foote, 

 this, too, being of the first year ; that was a large green pear, melting, and 

 juicy, having in some of its characteristics a little resemblance to the Noveau 

 Poiteau. Dr. S. also shew pears. Admiral Porter, of medium size, round form, 

 yellow, with brown spots, flesh rather coarse, sweet, and seemed disposed to lot 

 at the core; Gen. Grant, large pyriform, fine-grained, sweet, rather crisp, 

 seeming also disposed to rot at the core ; Allerton, pyriform, with a long stem, 

 yellow, rather coarse grain, of a pleasant subacid taste ; Varuna, large, green, 

 obtuse pyriform, knobby, rather dry, seemed wanting in flavor ; Diman, a small 

 russet pear, sweet, and juicy, b ut lacking flavor ; Quince, large, roundish, green, 

 with a short stem, flesh tender, but rather coarse ; these four last on 17th Oct. 

 Dr. ShurtlefF likewise exhibited pears, of which one was named President ; 

 that was very large, obtuse, obovate, with a short stem, green color, with 

 brown specks, its flesh, though a little coarse, was melting, juicy, of a 

 sprightly flavor, and good ; another called Norfolk County, large pyramidal, 

 yellow, flesh yellow, juicy, melting, sprightly and good ; and a third named 

 General Kearney, long, pyramidal, green, flesh white, melting, very juicy, but 

 lacked flavor. Mr. A. I. Dean also exhibited a seedling pear, that was large, 

 pyriform, with a long stem, yellow, flesh melting, juicy, sweet, and very 

 good. Mr. Clapp, one marked No. 12, and another marked No. 15. No. 12 

 was a medium, oval or Bergamot shaped pear, of a light yellow color, sweet, 

 musky, tender, but rather dry flesh. No. 15 was large, obtuse, obovate, with 



