REPORTS. 



ANNUAL EXHIBITION, 1847. 



REPORT ON FRUIT. 



Samuel H. Colton, of Worcester, Chairman; Silas Allen, of Shrewsbury, 

 William C. Capron, of Uxbridge. 



In presenting their Report of the Eighth Autumnal Exhibition of the Wor- 

 cester County Horticultural Society, the Committee on Fruits beg leave to 

 remark, that they enter upon the duties assigned them with great reluctance, 

 fearing that their small experience with the subject will not enable them to 

 discharge its duties with that ability and correct judgment which have charac- 

 terized the Reports on Fruit heretofore made to the Society. 



It cannot but be gratifying to all who take any interest in horticultural 

 pursuits, to witness the constant and rapidly increasing collections of valuable 

 fruit in our midst ; evincing good proof of skillful cultivation, correct taste 

 and good judgment in selecting those varieties which are besl suited to our soil 

 and climate. No further evidence of this need be adduced, than a comparison 

 of the exhibition which has just taken place with those of former years. With 

 a very few exceptions, all the fruit exhibited this year was grown in this County ; 

 while heretofore our show has been in part made up by contributions from culti- 

 vators abroad. Although, owing to their scarcity, the show of apples was not 

 quite equal to some former exhibitions, and fears of a failure in that department 

 were entertained by some, yet, taken all together, the show of fruit this year far 

 exceeded that of any former seasons ; and probably a better collection of all 

 the fruits of the season was never before exhibited in New England. 



The Committee regretted that the time of holding the Exhibition was fixed 



for so short a period, as no doubt many persons who would be glad to attend it 



could not conveniently do so during the short time it was open. It is hoped 



that two days, at least, will hereafter be devoted to that purpose. But, although 



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