Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 37 



considerable size, that the injury to them was comparatively trifling. In- 

 deed, my trees have never been breaking down with such burdens of fruit 

 as at this moment, though in general of small size. We cannot complain 

 of excessive heat, the thermometer only once so high as 92°, and only a 

 few days at 90° ; but until four days ago, we have not had a shower suffi- 

 cient to wet the ground one inch iu depth since the 29th of March. Springs 

 and wells have dried up which were never known to fail before, and a large 

 part of the mills in the country stopped. There has been in this county 

 about half a crop of wheat, but of excellent quality. The oat crop is re- 

 garded as a total failure, many turning in their stock, others trying to glean 

 as much as will serve for seed. Early planted corn is almost a total fail- 

 ure. An acquaintance of mine has bargained his chance of a crop on 136 

 acres for fifty barrels ; in ordinary seasons, he might confidently have ex- 

 pected 500. But I forget myself. This is talk for a farmer's ear, not a 

 gardener's. We began to eat our small, earliest peaches on the 25th June. 

 Golden chasselas grapes are already ripe. Black Hamburgh, Zinfindal, 

 Devereux, Miller's Burgundy, and several other grapes, are coloring beau- 

 tifully ; even Isabella are turning also. Indeed, I never yet saw such a 

 prospect for a crop, scarcely a specimen of the usual blast on Herbemonts, 

 Madeira, and other kinds, which have commonly suffered most from that 

 cause. But, my dear sirs, what shall I do with the birds? I am in de- 

 spair. — Yours, M. A. W., Athens, Ga., July, 1845. 



Art. II. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Saturday, December 6ih, 1845. Exhibited. — Fruit : From Joseph Lovett, 

 very fine specimens of Beurr6 d'Aremberg, Glout Morceau, Winter Nelis, 

 Easter Beurr6, Lewis, and Passe Colmar of the second crop ; also fine 

 Minister apples. 



December I3th. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day — 

 the President in the chair. 



There being no special business before the Society, it was adjourned two 

 weeks, to December 27. 



December 21th. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day — 

 the President in the chair. 



A special committee, consisting of the President, Treasurer, and Hon. 

 J. S. Cabot, were appointed to examine the Books of the Mount Auburn 

 Cemetery, and receive the proper proportion of the Society's receipts. 



Messrs. C. M. Hovey, Walker, Breck, Kingsbury, and Lovett, were ap- 

 pointed a committee to advise with the executive committee, on the appro- 

 priation of the amount to be awarded for premiums, for 1846. 



A committee, consisting of the President, Recording Secretary, and C. 

 M. Hovey, were appointed to prepare tickets of admission to the Society's 

 exhibitions, on the same terms as in 1845. 



R. Appleton, Boston, Andrew Welhngton, Lexington, and Edmund 

 Smith, Brighton, were admitted members. 



Meeting dissolved. 



