186 THE FLORIST AND 



each for a display of Peaches and Nectarines, to Jerome Graff, gardener to 

 C. Cope. 



The Committee reported having examined ad interim, the Pennsylvania 

 Strawberry, from Gerhard Schmitz, specimens unusually fine, measuring 

 five inches in circumference and weighing 160 grains troy. 



Vegetables — display by a market gardener,' for the best, to A. L. Felten. 

 Special premium of one dollar to Alexander Burnett, gardener to H. Pratt 

 McKean, for a dish of fine Mushrooms. 



At the recommendation of the Committees — Ordered, that all the pre- 

 miums awarded for objects shown at the meetings in May or June, be paid, 

 notwithstanding they were staged after the time specified in the schedule, as 

 the change of hour was not generally known. 



The Fruit Committee to whom was recommitted that portion of their ad 

 interim report, read at the stated meeting in February last, relating to the 

 Strawberry question for reconsideration — reported that the plant on which 

 the facts and opinions were therein embraced and founded being destroyed, 

 no examination of the identical plant was practicable ; therefore, they report 

 the same back to the Society without alteration, viz : 



AD INTERIM FRUIT REPORT. 



February 21, 1854. 



A Strawberry Plant in pot — from Thomas Meehan. — This plant con- 

 tained one ripe, perfect berry ; size, large, nearly three and three-fourths 

 inches in its horizontal circumference ; form, roundish ; color, brick-dust red, 

 with brownish seed set in superficial indentations. Besides this ripe berry, 

 it had on it four deformed and defective unripe ones, and eight abortive 

 flowers. The anthers, that were still visible, showed it to be a staminate 

 variety; and by some of the Committee it was considered the Cushing. — 

 With this plant the following letter to the Committee was received on the 

 9th instant: 

 To the Fruit Committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: 



Gentlemen: — In seeking the name of the Strawberry sent herewith, I 

 beg to make a few remarks in connection. Last spring I exhibited before 

 the Society three plants, as I believed of the same variety as this. One 

 plant having all the flowers pistillate ; another all hermaphrodite. By direc- 

 tion of the Society my remarks sent with the plants were printed. Friends 

 at a distance subsequently came forward, who expressed an opinion that my 

 plants could not be ^Hoveys Seedling,' but must be some variety in which 

 the power to vary in its sexual character was a ' characteristic feature. I 

 mav be allowed to observe that if this variety be not Hovey's — a strawberry 



