54 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES, 



For the Year 1864. 

 BY ABNEB PIEBCE, CHAIKMAM". 



In fulfilling their duties in accordance to the By-Laws of the Society, your 

 Committee are not unmindful of the trust committed to their care to lay before 

 the public a statement of the varieties of vegetables contributed during the 

 past season, and submit the following : 



With a few exceptions, the early drought in June had a tendency to check 

 some kinds of vegetables, for instance, early celery, flat turnips, early pota- 

 toes, and cabbage to some extent. But the following rains in July, brought 

 forward the growth rapidly, and the farmer and market gardener, in the abun- 

 dance of their crops, were well remunerated for their toil. 



Although but few new varieties have been introduced at the weekly exhi- 

 bitions, the Society feel grateful to the contributors for their attention in 

 placing upon the tables the choicest productions the soil produces. 



Great attention has been paid to growing the tomato for the past few years. 

 This year a new variety was introduced from Philadelphia by C, N. Brackett, 

 of Newton, " Cooke Favorite." In flavor, size and appearance it equals any 

 we have among hs, and is by some pronounced superior to any we have ; but 

 that remains to be proved, as it has only been grown one year, and needs fur- 

 ther cultivation to establish it. 



During the past year many new members have been added to their list, 

 more than in any three years since the formation of the Society, and with 

 much pleasure is noted among this number quite a number of amateur scien- 

 tific gardeners from our neighboring villages, from whom the Society may 

 expect many choice and valuable collections of vegetables. 



Although they may find the old veterans in West Cambridge, Belmont, 

 Maiden, Saugus, Salem, and other adjoining towns, whom I take the liberty 

 to name, Crosby, Allen, Russell, Hill, Frost, Pierce, Hatch, Merrill, and many 

 others, hard to beat, still, with the very liberal inducements offered by the 

 Society, they hope to see the tables well filled, the coming year, with the 

 choicest productions of the season at the weekly exhibition. 



The annual show in September last, under all circumstances was pro- 

 nounced as good, if not superior, to any since the formation of the Society, for 

 which they are under obligation, and embrace this opportunity of thanking all 

 for their liberal and valuable collections of vegetables. Were they to attempt 

 to particularize, it would make their report quite too tedious, but will make the 

 following remarks : 



James H. Smith, gardener to Francis Skinner, Esq., Newton : Six varieties 

 of Potatoes •, two from London. Two new varieties of Watermelons. 



