11)8 MASSACHUSETTS HORIICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



At the StrawbeiT}' Exhibition all popular varieties were well 

 represented. The Marshall, as in previous years, won all the 

 prizes where it was in competition. There has been complaint 

 from some of the commercial growers that it has not proved 

 sufficiently productive, while others have found it the most profit- 

 able variety they have grown. Whatever may be the final con- 

 sensus of opinion as to its value as a field berry, there can be no 

 question as to its superiority for the amateur and for exhibition. 

 Several new seedlings were shown requiring further cultivation to 

 establish their standing. Of recent introductions the Clyde seems 

 to be the most popular variety. The fruit is of medium size and 

 fair quality ; the plant is a strong grower, and, as far as tested, 

 proves remarkably productive. It will be placed on the premium 

 list for 1898. 



A pleasing and encouraging feature of our exhibitions has been 

 the steady bat constant improvement of the fruit placed on exhi- 

 bition. The exhibitors are more careful in the selection and 

 arrangement of their specimens, and where the competition is 

 between single dishes of the same varieties there is little encourage- 

 ment to compete with inferior or imperfect specimens. 



Campbell's Early Grape was shown at three exhibitions, and the 

 specimens were an improvement in appearance and qualit}' over 

 those exhibited last year. There were seedling apples, pears, and 

 grapes from other States shown during the season, but the Com- 

 mittee could not, after careful examination, discover any single 

 point of excellence over similar fruits already in general cultivation. 



Most of our new fruits have been chance seedlings. The fruit 

 growers have hardly kept pace with the florists in improvement by 

 cross-fertilization, as note the improvement in the rose, chrysan- 

 themum, and carnation within the last ten years. Cross-breeding 

 of animals shows what ma}' be accomplished by intelligent and 

 persevering effort and the selection of parents with a definite object 

 in view. Fruits and flowers seem equally susceptible of improve- 

 ment by cross-fertilization. 



The Committee have awarded in i)rizes and gratuities 81,604:, 

 leaving an unexpended balance of Si 96. 



E. W. Wooo, 



O. B. Hadwen, , ,, 



' > Committee. 

 Samuel Haktwell, 



Warren Fenxo, 



