fhuit committee's report. 35 



very successfal growers. In order to fully appreciate this, and other varieties 

 grown by these gentlemen, it will be necessary to visit their grounds in time 

 of fruit, as some members of your Committee did, and witness theii mode of 

 cultivation, and the great crops of splendid fruit that they are able to produce. 

 Nowhere have we seen better returns, as the result of good cultivation, both 

 in quantity and size of fruit. We hope the hint may be taken by others, and 

 more and better strawberries may be grown by the members of our Society. 

 Mrs. T. VV. Ward placed on the tables a very fine basket of Hovey's Seedling 

 strawberries, of remarkable size and color; but she, not being a member-, 

 could not receive a premium. They were fully up to the Belmont fruit; 

 another proof of vvhat may be accomplished by proper cultivation. Strawber- 

 ries were also shown by J. W. Foster, M. H. Simpson, G. Leland, W. C. Hard- 

 ing, and J. C. Park, but on the whole the show of this most admirable fruit 

 ■was very meagre, and it is to be deplored that we do so little in this depart- 

 ment of Horticulture, when we remember what our neighbors at Belmont are 

 able to accomplish, with a new Society, and comparatively few members. 

 The premiums offered are believed to be libera], and it is to be hoped that 

 a vigorous effort will be made by fruit growers, and all members of the 

 Society, to make in future a more creditable display of this truly delicious 

 fruit. The leading sorts for general cultivation and for market are Hovey's 

 Seedling, which is really the best variety grown, Brighton Pine and Jenny 

 Lind ; some cultivators would include Triomphe de Gand, but we are not fully 

 prepared to admit this, but think it may do well when cultivated in hills. 

 For amateur cultivation may be added La Constante, Boston Pine, Admiral 

 Dundas, Napoleon HI, Sir Charles Napier, and others. Where a strong haut- 

 bois flavor is wanted. La Belle Bordelaise is perhaps the best, though it will 

 only be grown in limited quantities. There is still room for improvement in 

 the strawberry, for none of the varieties now cultivated combine all the good 

 qualities that we yet hope to see, in some variety of this fruit. 



The Cherry crop was very small about Boston the past season, and there 

 were but three or four varieties shown. This fruit seems to be fast disap- 

 pearing from our market, but we hope that the time may come when it will 

 flourish as of yore. The varieties were May Duke, Elton, Napoleon Bigar- 

 reau. Downer, and Black Tartarian. 



Of Raspberries, the show was quite limited, and the berries smaller than 

 usual, owing to the dry weather. There were but three exhibitors, and only 

 one lot was considered worthy of a premium. 



The Currant crop was good, and fine specimens were brought forward. 

 Dana's Transparent appeared finely, and will rank as the largest white currant 

 cultivated in this vicinity. Mr. Dana brought out a new seedling white 

 currant this year, which was smaller than the Transparent, more yellow, and 

 less acid than any variety now cultivated, and it promises to be an acquisition 

 for table use. La Versailles was prominent among those on the tables, and is 



