REPORTS. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS, 



Awarding Premiums for 1853. 



The Committee on Gardens present to the Society a Report of their do- 

 ings for the past year. The Committee have inspected the gardens and 

 grounds of all those who notified them of their wish to be considered com- 

 petitors for the prizes oiTered by the Society, as well as of those who had 

 by invitation or otherwise given your Committee reason to suppose that a 

 visit of examination would be acceptable. Of the gardens submitted for 

 examination, as competing for prizes, an account somewhat in detail seems 

 proper. Of those not considered as coming within this class, no mention is 

 felt to be necessary, unless some attractive novelty, or some peculiar mode 

 of cultivation pursued therein, demanded a notice. On May 17, and again on 

 June 2, the grapehouse of Mr. M. H. Simpson, at Saxonville, was examined 

 by your Committee. The house is situated on the southern slope of a some- 

 what steep, though gradual declivity, not far from tlie top of the hill. It 

 has a span roof, and is about 75 feet long, by 22 wide. This house is 

 heated by two cylindrical iron stoves, placed near each end, connected by 

 a funnel, running horizontally, with an upright in the centre to carry off the 

 smoke. These stoves have been in use for four years, and consume from 

 12 to 14 tons of coal annually. In extreme cold weathier the fires have to 

 be attended to during the night ; but this is not generally necessary. At 

 the time of the visit of your Committee, there was a remarkably fine crop 

 of grapes upon the vines ; the fruit was ripe, both berries and bunches 

 large, and tlie former well colored and of fine quality; the vines too seemed 

 vigorous and healthy. Of some varieties, as the Frontignans, Cannon Hall 

 Muscat, Muscat of Alexandria, and Chasselas Musque, the fruit was partic- 

 ularly noticeable for both size and beauty, as well as fine flavor. Peaches 

 are also cultivated by Mr. S., in pots, placed under the grape vines, in the 

 house, in the cold season, and carried out into the open air when the weather 

 is warm and fine. On May 17, Coolidge's Favorite and Royal George were 

 swelling oif and coloring finely. The grape vines were started in Decem- 

 ber, and the first ripe bunches of grapes were cut on May 1st. The house 

 and garden being under the care of Mr. Byrnes, the gardener. Mr. Simp- 

 son is of opinion that the method he has adopted for heating his house, pos- 

 sesses decided advantages ; that it is very much more economical than any 

 other ; and that by it a constant circulation of the air in the house is always 

 kept up and rendered thereby pure. To thia last he attributes the health of 



