58 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Cauliflowers, both early and late, have not, as a general thing, been a sue ■ 

 cessful crop the past year, and with many have proved a total failure ; though 

 the early growth of the plants was promising, they failed to mature their fine 

 heads of bloom. 



Early Peas and Beans suffered severely from the long drought in May and 

 June, which had the eifect of reducing the crop by nearly one half in this 

 vicinity. 



The Root crops in general have been very abundant, and of uniformly good 

 quality, especially Parsnips, Carrots, &c. 



The Lettuce crop has been fine, and specimens for display have been con- 

 tributed of varieties heretofore rarely if ever equalled. 



The Annual Exhibition, confined as it was to the limited space and meagre 

 accommodations afforded by the Society's present head-quarters, was as fully 

 a success as could have been reasonably anticipated. As it was, many con- 

 tributors to the department on former occasions, refrained from presenting 

 vegetable specimens, from fear they might not have due space and prominence 

 allotted them ; hence our tables, for the first time for many years, conveyed an 

 idea of barren unproductiveness and lack of agricultural thrifl and enterprise 

 altogether unwarranted by the well-stocked fields and gardens which they 

 affected to represent. This was as great a disappointment to your Committee 

 as to the public, who have generally bestowed such a liberal share of atten- 

 tion, and dwelt with such peculiar satisfaction upon this attractive feature of 

 our Annual Exhibitions. 



The fine Mammoth Squashes, which usually form so prominent a landmark 

 in the vegetable department on such occasions, were particularly missed ; not 

 so much, perhaps, on account of their intrinsic merits, as for their grandly 

 rotund proportions and rich golden texture, that seem to fill the eye and give 

 to the spectator an unlimited idea of plenty. 



There were shown, however, some fine Turban Squashes, which are of great 

 culinary excellence, and probably the best autumn Squashes grown. This 

 variety has nearly triple the specific gravity, for the same bulk, of the Marrow ; 

 and, as its quality becomes better known, it must take the lead of this class of 

 vegetables, both among cultivators and consumers. Already what few have 

 found their way into the market have excited a demand for an increased 

 supply. 



The specimens of Cabbage contributed were of such inferior size, as com- 

 pared with former exhibitions, that the prizes for mammoth varieties were 

 omitted. 



In the Melon department there was a better display. The specimens of 

 Green-ftesh and Christiana were very fine, with many competitors for the an- 

 nual prizes. In testing, they might all be pronounced good, while some were 

 of superior quality, as may be seen by referring to the awards. Watermelons, 

 for several years past, have been rarely shown of a size and quality to com- 

 mand the Society's first premium. This season, Daniel C. Murray, gardener 



