REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX FRUITS. 167 



bid fair to depose the European varieties. Among the best Japan- 

 ese phmis are Abundance, Red June, Burbank, October Purple, 

 CHmax, \Yickson, and Chabot. 



The crop of native grapes in this state does not materially effect 

 the market, for New York supplies it almost entirely. This, 

 however, should not discourage the growing of a fruit which adds 

 much to the pleasure and beauty of a garden and is not without 

 its economic value. The long warm fall this past season ripened 

 grapes to perfection so we had very fine specimens at our exhibi- 

 tions. Concord, Niagara, Green jNIountain, Worden, IMoore's 

 Early, and Delaware are most freciuently grown in this state. 



Among the small fruits grown in New England the strawberry 

 is the most important. Owing to its adaptability and ease of 

 culture it is grown by both professional and amateur with great 

 success. The market conditions for this fruit are not as favorable 

 as in former times for berries from New York and New Jersey 

 are apt to conflict with the native crop. During the past season 

 better prices were realized for strawberries than the year before 

 and we believe that there is a good market for a strictly first class 

 berry put up in an attractive form; trays in preference to baskets. 

 In the other small fruits, currants, gooseberries, blackberries, and 

 raspberries, the crop was fair and of good cjuality. We have 

 never seen such fine gooseberries and currants as were exhibited 

 in this hall last season. 



The weather conditions for 1905 were ideal for all fruits except 

 strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. The long continued 

 fair weather during September and October was excellent for 

 apples, pears, grapes, and peaches. Plums were badly hurt by 

 the heavy rain of September 4-6, and some of the peaches were 

 also damaged at this time. 



The committee regrets to say that there was a great lack of 

 greenhouse fruits at the exhibitions of 1905. We feel sure there 

 are growers who could produce excellent fruit and add much to 

 our exhibitions. With the exception of grapes there were no 

 greenhouse fruits shown and we believe that more encouragement 

 should be given to the growing of fruit under glass. 



We would also say that, with the exception of strawberries, 

 there were very few new varieties of fruit exhibited this j)ast season 



