24 



diictivenefs. This, added to the great beauty of the fruit, will make it a 

 desirable and choice variety, for even the smallest collection. The Messrs. 

 Hovey presented at our weekly exhibitions, the seedling cherry heretofore 

 mentioned, fully sustaining its forn.er reputation ; and this being the fifth 

 year of offering it, the Committee awarded the Appleton gold medal, valued 

 at S^O, as the best seedling, after a trial of five years. 



Messrs, Hyde & Son exhibited "Peirce's seedling," a large, dark-red 

 cherry, very late in ripening, of a fine flavor, and said to be remarkably 

 productive. The Messrs. Hyde represent the tree as being very handsome 

 as a " shade-tree," partaking much of the form of the horse-chestnut, with 

 large and broad leaves, which would certainly be an additional inducement, 

 combining, as it is said to, the advantage of a fine shade and good fruit. 



July 2. — Hon. M. P. Wilder exhibited Duchesse de Pallua cherries, of a 

 fine flavor, and represented as very productive. On the same day he ex- 

 hibited twenty varieties of strawberries from imported vines, and out of the 

 whole number only three were considered by him as wortliy of cultivation, 

 viz. : " Hericart de Thury," '■ Marechal de la Cour," and " Barnes's New 

 Large White," which, as exhibited, certainly proves to be the largest and 

 finest of the white varieties. 



Mr. Elijah Myrick exhibited Bigarreau de Mezel chen'ies, of an extra 

 size, under some new name. The same cherry has been received from 

 Europe, under the name of Bigarreau Gaubalis, and Monstreuse de Bavay, 

 and is identical with the Waterloo, sent to Mr. Wilder from Mr. Downing's 

 nursery some fifteen years since. 



Sept. 3. — Mr. A. D. Webber presented seedling melons, grown in open 

 culture. It is a cross between the Beechwood and Christiana. From its 

 great productiveness, early maturity and rich melting flavor, the Committee 

 are of opinion that they can recommend this variety in confidence of its 

 resulting in entire satisfaction to the cultivator. 



We are ready to bear testimony in favor of the seedling strawberry by 

 Hon. Samuel Walker, so fully and meritoriously spoken of in previous 

 reports. 



As previously stated in tlie preceding report, we cannot commend a gen- 

 eral culture of the gooseberry, with the exception of " Houghton's Seed- 

 ling," on account of the devastating influence of the mildew. There has 

 been only one contributor who has succeeded in making a large display 

 during the season, and his (Mr. Alexander McLellan's) contributions con- 

 sisted of some twenty-five varieties, well grown — but by what process he 

 was enabled to avoid the usual baneful effect of the mildew, we did not learn. 



As a general matter of note, the show of strawberries and raspberries 

 has been meritorious. Of the former, the most extensive shows have con- 

 sisted of Hovey's Seedling and Boston Pine, and of the latter, decidedly 

 the best have been made with Knevet's Giant. 



The Committee notice that the number of contributions of the " Improved 

 High Blackberry," has but slightly increased over the previous year ; and 

 though they strenuously urged a general culture of this choice fruit, in their 

 previous report, they still continue to see evidence confirming their former 



