258 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



instructive exhibit was made by the Horticultural Department 

 of the Agricultural College at Amherst. Very careful experiments 

 have been made there in the application, by spraying, of the so- 

 called Bordeaux mixture to the grape vine, to prevent mildew. 

 The application has been made where there were duplicate vines 

 of the same variety growing side by side, upon one vine only, and 

 where there was a single vine upon a portion of it, and branches 

 of the vines, with fruit and foliage attached, were exhibited, show- 

 ing a ver}^ marked improvement in both fruit and foliage where the 

 mixture had been applied. 



Another interesting feature of this exhibition was from Dr. 

 Jabez Fisher, who showed sample bunches of Concord grapes, all 

 from the same vine, one-half of which had been girdled. The 

 berries from the girdled portion of the vine were about one-third 

 larger than those from the part not girdled and fully ripe, while 

 the fruit from the other portion of the vine was not even fully 

 colored. There were also several bunches of Eaton and Worden 

 from girdled vines showing the same result. 



As we were to have only fruits and vegetables at the September 

 exhibition, thus affording very much more space than has hereto- 

 fore been thus occupied, the Committee decided to invite some of 

 the largest dealers in preserved fruits to make an exhibit. With- 

 in the last few years the improvement in the methods of preserv- 

 ing fruits has been greater than in growing them, and the business 

 has been very largely increased. It is estimated that within the 

 circle limited by a radius of forty miles around the city of 

 Rochester, N.Y., there have been some years in which more than 

 six miUion bushels of apples have been evaporated. 



Some fifteen years ago, when the export of green fruit was very 

 considerably increased, leading horticulturists thought the ques- 

 tion of how to dispose of an abundant crop was solved. But 

 here we have iu this limited area around Rochester a consump- 

 tion of fruit larger than all the green fruit exported from the 

 whole country. 



The Royal Horticultural Society of London has recently held a 

 four days' exhibition, confined entirely to preserved fruits. We 

 found upon soliciting contributions in September, that it was the 

 most unfavorable time in the year, as the dealers had on hand only 

 the stock they had carried over, expecting to receive their new 

 stock later in the season ; but Messrs. S. S. Pierce & Co. and George 



