Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-07

American Register of Rural Affairs. 1861 -S-5,
American Register of Rural Affairs, 1907.
n Emo z 3;,uu,,. TO-, -, Society
american n Naturalist ISL. Vol 5, Syo.
Horticuturist: Vol. 26, ISL.
Ivy The The; By Shirley Hibberd. 1 vol, .quarto'
Gd L9ado1, ,,,n,,,.. ~, 10 o.. Society
American Agriculturist: Vol. 80, quarto.
Gardeners Chronicle: l vol quarto. 1871.
FLORAL World, The: Vol. 6. London.
Flore DIES Series: Client Belgium, vols. J to Is
inclusive. SvO, half calf. Society,
12mo. Society,
My Garden: Its Plan and Culture. By Alfred
Swes, f. r. S. vol. svo. London. Society.
The SUMNER EXHIBITIONS of the society have
achieved an unexampled success, This is un.
dOubtedly owing, in great measure, TO the early
PRONUNCIATION of the schedule Of premiums,
whereby cultiyators were informed in advance
OF the particular display Of Flower or Fruit in
vIted upon given date, as also of the amount
assigned for prizes. The assurance that the Sc
cleiy would make seasOnable provision for such
exhibitions was enough TO provoke competition;
While the equal certainty OF beholding something
deserving close observation proved amply sufh-
cient to attract a continually increasing attend
ance. Ii is believed that the objects of the
society can in no way be better promoted than
by fostering, TO ev-ry reasonable extent these
n.
The sums devoted to their use should be steadily
if gradually, augmented; for although it
would not be possible to fully remunerate con-
tributOTS for thertime and trouble it is at least
within our ability, as it should be our fixed pur.
pose, to ensure them against positive loss. No
expenditure Of the unds thatare entrusted to US
can be wiser or more legitimate,
The character and magnitude of our exhib.
lions have been seriously affected by recent eli.
matte pecuariteS. The fierce and unreentng
drought Of 1870, followed by one almost as
parchng, if not so continuous, in 1871, was
sternly supplemented by the late extreme of
an almost Arctic winter. Deprived for so long
Of moisture, and almost sapless, the hardest
shrubs and trees, which did not absolutely sue
cumb TO the cutting gales and intense frost of
March, were yet robbed of height, mass and
symmetry. Ii some with deeper taD-rOot sur
VlVed the excessive drain upon their vital ener-
gHes, it was almost invariably at the expense of
That majestic altitude which it had required
years Of development to attain. Fruit trees
escaped by reason of the higher cultivation be.
slowed upon them. Manure and mulching and
occasional tillage, did much TO counteract the
banetul tendencies of an uninterrupted aridity.
The lower plants Jared worse. With its thread
like roots spread out upon the surface; or, at
the utmost, penetrating the earth but few
inches; the Strawberry was slQually exposed TO
every destructive influence. Greedy of water, it
went thirst for months. Requiring protection
from the alterations of frost and thaw il was
| exposed, unprotected by IFS natural covering OF
snow, save when wrapped In the fatal embrace
Of ice and sleet. So that, at length, after "the
flowers appear on the earth; the time of the
singing of birds is come and the voice of the
turtle is heard in our Iand;" the grower, in too
many instances, finds that his prospect oil swell
ing crown and prolific bred has vanished in a
bleak monotony of empty hills and frozen
plants. varieties were served so nearly alike
that it will be idle for any one to claim exemp.
ton from the common mortality for his eXcep.
tionally favored lot. Wilson and Jucunda, Tri-
| omphc and Charles Downing; their most zeal.
Gus champions must cOncede their several and
absolute need OF protection. And the berry is
worth that trouble and more. Costly as its
cultivation is, however; and irksome as is the
toll OF gathering the crop; a scanty yield has
been attended with one compensation. The
grower has obtained price per quart more
closely approXimating remuneration. Still, it
is very questionable it, in the average of series
OF years, an accurate balance-sheet would dis.
close any margin in favor of the cultivation OF
Strawberries, upon a large scale, for the general
market. In propitOuS season, the crop OF
ordinary or poor varieties, produced in more
southerly ATTITUDES, is supplied in quantities and
at prices with which we cannot compete. The
only prudent course, in this vicinity, is TO raise
the standard Of excellence, at the same time
developing the taste of the public; cultivating
only those varieties which yield best in hills and
which, thus grown, survive for years without
the trouble and expense Of forming a new plan
tation. Such superior fruit would command its
own price in the market and marked apprecia-
tion upon the tea-table Of him who should sue
coed in its production.
R0$pbeIrtes suffered equally with Strawber-
rics, in all cases where care was not taken for
their protection. Your Secretary has heretofore
asserted, in these Reports, that no variety of
this delicate fruit which ought to be esteemed
pf gtrlfir ton,
Tor successive years, unless the canes are laid
down and covered over throughout the winter.
such have been his fixed conclusions, deduced
from the experience and observation of more
than lOrty years, and running from the earliest
introduction of the Red and Yellow Antwerp, to
the later and richer iruiton of Brinckle's
Orange. And nOtwithSlandn the recent action
OF the society, whereby the distinction of
HARDY" and "HatHardy" Raspberries was
sought to be arbitrarily established, he thinks
1t not unbecoming to remark that his original
convictions are unaltered. 1t is true thar the
Black Caps, so called, will endure either extreme
OF heat or cold. But then, person must pos
sess land by the acre TO grow them; and when
grown, although technically Raspberries, they
Will be found TO possess little resemblance, save
in name, TO their choicer congcners The fire.
quent rains of the spring months during the
period oil lntorescence, eXerted very preiudi-
clal influence upon the feCundity OF this fruit
notable diminuton in the number of bees and
other winged insects, perhaps attributable TO
tne severity Oh the WINTER by the deprivation of
tuell 'iu III tue process OF lertllzaton, was rem
ueIeu yet more obvious IN decreased the crop.
NefeiInGiess' III the Whole realm OF Pomology,
no SInus can DC clted whose species are surer,
wllh proper culture and sufficient care, to rem
utI adequate returns lor the trouble expended
upon ana eXacted Dy them, than those of the
nooiei FarleteS OF inc RuDuS ld@us. The
uIspIay OF NURRANIs throughout the past sea-
son mas Oeeh reharkaDe. Nothing like it, or
at an apprONllhaIinS II, mas Deen seen for years
upon Tue taoles OF the society. NO fruit better
heIi'S cultYatoh, none other SO well repays it.
ana IL may DC added with truth, until the
AolaAls hioearla-the scholastic designation of
vulgar pGst-compeled attention, OF none be-
SUES was Chete sucn studied neglect. The evil
uelit 9aWhlh@ Oh Detter day Is welcome. The
ienStn Vi lhe during which the currant may
W lnaue 10 Yleld Is not the least OF its signal
nleII's, Inc hrst quart OF the growth of the
present year was visible upon our tables on the
eleVehth Gay OF july You could scarcely trust
your own eyesiSnt whea you Oeheld dish of
perfectly fresh and sonnd specimens at the an
Huut H~tunH0t f@ht01'0R, on the l7th Of Sep
iemoer' mat the Cufrant can be thus kept in
It's prime, upon inc Dush, has 0een no secret to
SApeIleuced ehitlVators. Credit Is, however,
que 10 Mr. Joseph T. Fhelps Tor the ocular dem
onStratloh OIL tne tact winch he afforded upon
tnat occasloi' II only remains to add that the
eAhlultlohs Oh lolZ eohhrm beyond all question
the inexperienced pre,emnenee OF La Eersal-
i rIl loI eAcelIeGce ana lecundlty OurFLoRAL
E&HIBlTIoNs throughout the summer mani
Tested an Increased interest on the mart of mem