410 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



From the Report of the Committee on Fioivers. 



As this is the first time " our society " has placed woman on 

 its committees, it may not be amiss to preface tlie report on 

 flowers with a statement of the fact, written by one of the 

 ladies : — 



At the first Cattle Show of which we read, 



Man, sole committee, over all presided 

 Till the Great Husbandman, who saw the need 

 Of Woman's gentler counsel, thus decided : 

 " It is not good for man to be alone ;" 

 And straight a help-meet formed to share his throne. 



In this display, whore Nature, fresh and fair. 

 To Eden's bowers tempts back the roving will, 



The olden precedent is brought to bear. 



And Eve's quick tact is blent with Adam's skill, 



To trace the hand of God in fruits and flowers, 



And scan the product of man's feebler powers. 



If, in the judgment thus conjointly rendered, 



Error, like evil, craftily creeps in, 

 That same old plea, which father Adam tendered, 



Can now be urged to palliate the sin, 

 And every blunder written, thought or said, 

 Be visited on luckless woman's head. 



The committee to whom was assigned the floral department 

 of the exhibition, respectfully report that the display of flowers 

 was very good, far exceeding their expectations in beauty and 

 variety. A rich display of dahlias from H. K. Oliver, of Law- 

 rence, also fine varieties of the same from Timothy Ropes, of 

 Salem. There were also many beautiful floral designs, bouquets 

 and flowers from Andover, Haverhill, Amesbury, Salisbury, Ips- 

 wich, Newburyport, and other towns. Your committee regret 

 that some of these were destitute of labels at the time of exami- 

 nation, thereby precluding them from being noticed as they 

 merited, and it is hoped a similar occurrence may be avoided in 

 future exhibitions. Your committee have bright hopes of fur- 

 ther efforts and more general contributions to future exhibitions. 



