FRUIT committee's REPORT. « 35 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



For the Year 18G5. 

 BY JAMES F. C. HYDE, CHAIRMAN. 



In the discharge of our duties as the Fruit Committee of the Society, we 

 beg leave to present the following, as a brief summary of our doings during 

 the past year. 



In some respects the year has been a peculiar one. It is seldom that two 

 extremely dry seasons follow each other consecutively, as the last two have. 

 They differed but little in the severity of drought, but differed in the time of it. 

 The past year was very favorable in the spring, having been preceded by one 

 of the best and most favorable winters that has been experienced for many 

 years. During the month of June, and a portion of July, we had an abundance 

 of rain, thus tending to bring near to the surface the roots of plants, which 

 were soon to suffer and languish for want of water. The excessive wet, with 

 cool nights and sudden changes, soon bronght mildew and rot to the grapes, 

 and some varieties suffered severely. The trees and vines, and most other 

 plants, had made their growth and ripened their wood before the dry season 

 set in. But in the early part of August, vegetation began to suffer severely 

 from the drought. Pear trees appeared to suffer, with us, more than any other 

 fruit trees; partly, or wholly, because they had a large load of fruit on them. 

 In many instances that came to our knowledge, the trees with the fruit on 

 them, were completely dried and withered ; in others, the trees were only 

 saved, by promptly shaking off the fruit, before it was half matured. The only 

 safe way on dry land, is to mulch early in spring, and thus be prepared for the 

 worst. One of the best pear orchards in the vicinity of Boston is thus 

 managed, and great advantage is derived therefrom. 



Where vegetables were raised among trees, we noticed that the trees 

 suffered more from the drought. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The Society offered liberal premiums for this very delicious fruit, and we 

 witnessed a fair display on our tables, but nothing compared with what it 

 should be. More interest should be felt in this fruit, and we hope every 

 member of this Society will make an effort to cultivate it. It is only a few 

 years ago that strawberries could be bought for twelve or fifteen cents a box, 

 while for the past two or three years they have averaged twenty-five or thiity 

 cents per box, at wholesale. Now it is true that we cannot grow them to a 

 profit, and sell them for the former price, but it is equally true, that they can, 

 and should, be furnished for less than the last named prices. 



Then it is a curious fact that, notwithwithstanding many new seedlings have 

 been offered to the public within the past few years, there ia no variety 



