34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



For the Ykar 18G4. 

 BY JAMES F. C. HYDE, CHAIKMAN". 



Seed-time and harvest liaving passed, we are reminded that the year is 

 drawing to a close, and the time has come for us to present a report of our 

 doings. The season that has closed has been one of the most remarkable 

 that we have had for many years. During all the summer months there was 

 not a single long storm, nor scarcely a shower, causing vegetation to suffer 

 exceedingly, and the wonder is how it could survive at all. The crop of fruit 

 in this vicinity was very small, except perhaps that of pears, which was about 

 an average one, judging from the show at our Annual Exhibition. The growth 

 of trees has, on account of the extreme dry weather, been smaller than 

 for many years; and the wood is consequently well ripened, and the trees 

 better prepared to withstand the rigors of the winter and give us a crop next 

 year. The size of the fruit was affected by the same cause, for so severe was 

 the drouth in some localities, that grapes actually withered on the vines. In 

 many places, the fields of strawberries were burned up before half the fruit 

 had ripened, so that the crop was cut short perhaps a third or more throughout 

 the State. On low, moist land, the yield was good. If the results have been 

 less gratifying than desirable, it has not perhaps been the fault of the cultiva- 

 tor, who has no control over the weather. It is thought by some, to be an 

 advantage to have a dry season occasionally, but, however that may be, we 

 must accept it, and try to overcome by skill and industry that which we cannot 

 wholly control. In all probability next year will be a very fruitful one, and 

 fully compensate for any lack of the past year, in accordance with the 

 great law of compensation running through all the works of nature. 



But to speak more definitely in regard to the results of the closing year. On 

 the 30th day of January there were some grapes of the variety known as 

 the Lady Downes, from the place of H. H. Hunnewell, that were ripe 

 the 20th of September previous, but had hung on the vines until the day 

 of their exhibition, when they were in excellent condition. This experiment 

 shows what may be done by care with this fruit. Mr. H. Vandine exhibited 

 Josephine de Malmes pears, on the tJth day of February, that were well 

 preserved. Forced peaches and grapes were shown in abundance, by 

 11. W. Turner, Joseph Breck, and C. S. Holbrook. On the 28th day of May, 

 Mr. Holbrook exhibited the finest peaches of the Early Crawford variety, that 

 have ever been seen on our tables ; large, and well colored. This brings us to 

 the Strawberries, of which, for reasons before given, there was a short crop; 

 but yet there was some very fine fruit shown, Hovey & Co. exhibited many 

 varieties, among which none was more admired for its large size, handsome 

 appearance, and fine flavor, than the La Constante, • of which they are 



