11 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



AWARDING PREMIUMS FOR 1852. 



The Committee on Fruit submit their award of prizes for the year 1852. 



As might have been expected from the zeal of many individual members 

 of the Society, the labors of this Committee have been this year much in- 

 creased, both in interest and activity ; the number of new and valuable 

 fruits brought under its notice, has exceeded that of former years, and it is 

 with pride and gratification that the Committee submit to the Society, and 

 through it to the public, the following Report: — 



Owing to tiie inclement season during the period of the cherry blossoms 

 the fruit in most situations was much injured, and in some totally destroyed ; 

 notwithstanding which the contributions of this delicious fruit have been 

 -of unprecedented interest. The Hon. M. P. Wilder exhibited twelve va- 

 rieties, nearly all of recent introduction ; amongst these vras the Belle Au- 

 digeoise, which will probably prove identical with the flesh colored Bigarreau. 

 On the 17th July Messrs, Hovey & Co. produced the seedling cherry men- 

 tioned in the preceding report. This, notwithstanding the unfavorable 

 season, fully maintained the high character then conceded to it. June 

 26th, Azell Bowditch exhibited in perfect maturity Coe's Transparent 

 cherry ; its great beauty, early maturity and abundant productiveness must 

 render it a great acquisition to this department of fruit. Two of the seed- 

 ling cherries exhibited by Mr. Walsh, fully maintained the reputation 

 awarded them in former reports. 



On the 17th July, J. P. Cushing, Esq., contributed melons of several 

 varieties, including the Persian green flesh, which were of superior flavor. 

 Messrs. Hovey & Co. presented for the first time the Hunter melon, which 

 promises an acquisition in this department. 



On the 17tli July, Mrs. F. B. Durfee exhibited a fine bunch of 

 Victoria grapes, weighing two pounds three ounces, and one of Black 

 Hamburgh, weighing two pounds six ounces, both in perfection of maturity. 



The contributions of grapes from Mr. Allen's houses have been as liberal 

 as in foniier years ; in fact there has hardly been a week in which he has 

 failed to grace the tables of the Society ; his contributions of new varieties 

 and seedlings have been dealt out with no stinted hand, when tlie Conmiit- 

 tee desired to test the quality. In fact, there has been favors of this kind 

 at the hands of all contributors of fruits, to the view of disseminating knowl- 

 edge in this department. 



The Committee herewith append a note from Mr. Allen, believing it con- 

 tains information which may prove valuable to the growers of grapes: — 



Gentlemen, — I present for your examination the list of grapes, as per 

 memorandum at foot. They were cut this day from vines in my retarding 

 house. It will show you the result of my experiments for the last ten 

 years, to ascertain the kinds of grapes suitable for winter eating, and such 

 as are proper for a retarding house. . J. Fisk Allen. 



December 24, 1852. 



