434 



the season, when required, be brought into an eating condi- 

 tion by being placed for a few days in a close, warm temper- 

 ature. Nor are any further directions necessary with re- 

 gard to the disposal and preservation of the earlier ripening- 

 portion of the crop. They can be well kept in any dark, 

 cool room, free from frost, and will ripen off in a natural 

 succession ; being also improved by a short exposure to a 

 warm temperature at the final ripening. And the opinion 

 is hazarded that the very best specimens of winter pears are 

 such as thus ripen off, naturally, rather early in the season ; 

 and that at no time are they ordinarily to be found in a 

 higher degree of perfection than in the months of Decem- 

 ber and January. 



After the reading of the above valuable communications, 

 a discussion, partaking of a conversational character followed, 

 participated in by the Chair, Messrs. James Upton, John 

 M. Ives, C. C. Beaman, F. H. Lee, and others. 



Adjourned. 



TJiursday April 26, 1860. 



Meeting this evening at 7 1-2 o'clock. Geo, D. Phippen 

 in the chair. 



Records of the preceding meeting were read. 

 Donations were announced from the following. 



To the Cabinets— imm Joseph Cloutm.an ; George H. 

 Hovey ; Henry Derby, 



To the Library — from J L. Waters of Chicago, 111.; D, 

 A. White ; WiUiam Briggs ; David Perkins ; Jacob Win- 

 chester ; Henry F, Shepard. 



Letters were read from the Trustees of the Newburyport 

 Public Library ; Corporation of Harvard College ; E. O. 

 Proctor of South Danvers. 



David Roberts produced a Salem Custom House Book of 



