Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-25
horticultural Society.


The committee on pears respectfully sub
NIT the following report
The exhibitions of the Worcester County
Horticultural Society have for years justly
| been a source of pride to its members. The
| pears have ever been a feature in the eXhibi-
ton. An examination of the offerings of the
present year affords ample evidence that the
interest in the cultivation of this valuable
fruit is undated
The number of contributors was large, and
the specimens of many varieties showed a
marked improvement over former years. The
committee before examining the claims of the
different competitors decided to adopt what
they believed to be the true rule, that the
largest collection is not necessarily the best,
but that that should be regarded as the best
collection which contains the finest specimens
of the largest number of approved varieties
for while nurserymen and large cultivatOrs
will continue to introduce new varieties, the
number is already so large that it seems more
desirable that the society should aid in the
selection and encourage the cultivation Of well
tested and approved fruit.
The committee awarded the premiums as
follows -
For the largest and best collection of not
less than three specimens Of each variety, to
ID. W. Lincoln, Worcester, ITO varieties,
$40; 2nd largest and best, S. H. Cotton,
Worcester, S.. For best 20 varieties of not
less than five specimens each, }. c.. Ripley,
Worcester, IS; I'd best, b. Butman, Worces-
ter, Sc. For best 10 varieties Of not less than
five specimens each, L. S. Stebbins, Worces-
ter, IS; ID best, I. X. Earle, Worcester, 81.
For best varieties OF not less than five spec
linens each, Jonathan Grout, Worcester, 81
I'd best, Charles johnson, Northboro'. 50.
For best "A Seckel pears. John S. Clark,
| Worcester. 81. For best II Bartlett not Of
tered for special premium, b. Butman,
| worcester, 81. For the best II Beurre Ben,
Edwin Draper, Worcester, 81. For best II
Flemish Beauty, S. d. Hall, Grafton, So.
For best y Beurre dAnjou, L. d. Batchel-
der, North Brooktield, 81. For best u Louis
Bonnie de Jersey, Geo. NJ. Rice, Worcester,
81. For the best u Beurre Montague, S. V.
| Stone, Worcester, So. For his Sheldon pears
gratuity Of 81 to J. NJ. Earle, Worcester,
81. For his Seckel pears gratuity of 81 to
Josiah G. Stone
There were numerous competitors whose
| contributions were specially worthy of com
mendatlOn, if the limits of this report admit
| ted. The collection of John NJ. Earle is en-
titled to notice on account of containing the
| largest number of varieties. 1t should be stated
that by the rule that no separate premium
should be awarded for any plate of pears,
when the collection ofwhich it was part, had
| received premium, in several cases the pre-
miumS for separate varieties were awarded
when the specimens were not equal to those
in premium collections. Having discharged
to the best of their ability, the ordinary duty
OF the committee, in attempting to discrimi-
nate where the difference is slight, we find by
| tho Hharo ,,4+ bo
ry duty of awarding the special premium of
twenty-five dollars offered for the twelve best
Bartlett pears grown by the contributor in the
county of Worcester. There were - entries
made for the premium, the names of the com
pettors then unknown to the committee.
An attractive collection it was showing how
much high cultivation can do. The Bartlett
always popular, pleasant to the eye and taste,
encouraging the new beginner by bearing
early and full, seemed to have become aroused
by the preference shown in the offering Of
tins special premium as its award, and not
satisfied with an unusual swell, charging his
rotundity, had also elongated himself to an
unheard Of extent. All the entries for thi,
premium were deserving of praise, but there
were two plates numbered l6 and 20, between
} which the contest evidently lay. They eacl
presented strong points; they were evident,
|
pears superior in size to any of No. 20. TIT
twelve pears Of No. l6 weighed pounds anC
l ounce. The twelvepears of No. 20weghec
pounds and II ounces. While no singh
pears of this plate were equal in size to SOM
Of No. l6, yet they were of more uniform siz
and superior in fairness and color. Hal
there been great difference in the weight
the committee would have been governed b.
that, but the difference of only ounces il
! |. 1919 ounces, we thought was balanced by tn
greater uniformity and fairness of the others
and after much considerations the committe,
! being unable to arrive at satisfactory resul
: as to the superior merits of either, decided +
u recommend the division of the premium
ST. 30 to John G. Ripley, No. l6; $l2 so t.
L. S. Stebbins, No. 20-with the recommen
dation that further trial of their respectiv
: merits shall take place at the next annual ex
hibtion.
1t should be added to the report that afte
the announcement of the premiums, Mr.. Rip
&c ley and Mr.. Stebbins, with great hberalty
1t relinquished their special premium, in orde
that it might be competed for by all member
at the next annual exhibition