14 NORTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



the North Vassalboro' Nursery, made a very handsome display, 

 including- several choice varieties ; as did also, friend Taylor, L. 

 Dunbar, I. E. Getchel, C. C. Stratton, and others. Messrs. Var- 

 ney & Son showed specimens of fruit trees from their Nursery — 

 apple, pear, and plum — which were much admired; the skill and 

 enterprise of these gentlemen, who now have a large and thriving 

 Nursery at North Vassalboro', deserve to be liberally rewarded ; 

 and the farmers of Maine have now no excuse for going abroad 

 for trees, as much better ones can be obtained at home, and at 

 prices much lower, in proportion to actual value. 



Of butter, there were but three samples ; the smallest ever pre- 

 sented ; and of cheese, only nine. In household manufactures 

 there was a fair show ; and the samples of crops were never more 

 numerous ; but in the department of fine arts, there was a falling 

 off. In the line of manufactured articles, Messrs. Penney, Liard 

 & Thing, who have recently established a Foundry in Waterville, 

 presented some specimens of hollow ware, that were much ad- 

 mired for their smoothness and high finish. 



Although an additional day had been provided, that there might 

 be abundant time for everything, yet, when the time came for 

 reading the reports, hardly a score of persons gathered in the 

 Hall ; and this portion of the exercises, which ought to have been 

 the most interesting and profitable of all, was entirely lost to a 

 great majorty of the members. This prompted friend Taylor to 

 remonstrate against the system of management which offers one 

 hundred and ten dollars for trotting, and only eight dollars for ap- 

 ples ; while at the same time, it provides outside attraction to 

 draw off the people, so that the reports of the Committees must be 

 read to empty benches. A brisk discussion ensued among the few 

 members present, which resulted in the appointment of friend 

 Taylor, J. A. Varney, and I. E. Getchell, as a committee to con- 

 sider the propriety of forming a Horticultural and Pomological 

 Societ3 r , which committee were to report by calling a meeting for 

 organization, if they judged it best. But, as was said duPing the 

 discussion, the proper time and place for righting wrongs and 

 for shaping the management of the Society, is at the annual meet- 

 ing, which is too often very thinly attended. Come together at 

 that time, in force ; have a free discussion ; put the right men in 

 office, those who will faithfully execute your wishes, and then stand 

 by them, aiding them to the full extent of your ability, and the 

 Society will prosper. 



