428 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Under the present system, there appears to be a contradiction 

 between the principles and practice of the society The society 

 would encourage the growth of that which is actually good ; 

 whereas no committee on vegetables will or can ground their 

 report on any such basis ; they can only certify by their premi- 

 ums or gratuities to what looked good, but would not for one 

 moment be supposed to convey the idea, that these premiums or 

 gratuities indicated to any degree of accuracy the rank which 

 the articles deserve to hold for table use. We would therefore 

 recommend that cooked specimens of certain classes of the 

 vegetables exhibited, shall accompany them. At late exhibi- 

 tions, for example, new seedling potatoes have abounded ; also, 

 new varieties of the squash. If your committee could report 

 on the real quality of specimens in each of these classes, they 

 are of the opinion that the value of the report would be greatly 

 enhanced in some departments. The exhibition of vegetables 

 was considered as remarkably fine, in the number and variety 

 of squashes and cabbages. 



James J. H. Gregory, Chairman. 



HAMPDEN. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Your committee have the pleasure of witnessing an increasing 

 competition in this department of the society's exhibition. The 

 present display of vegetables, both in quantity and quality, has 

 never before been equalled in this county, and we venture to 

 say, seldom in New England. This is just as it should be. The 

 Yalley of the Connecticut, with its rich soil and warm exposure, 

 has an advantage over many portions of the State. And we 

 rejoice to learn that our leading cultivators are striving in hon- 

 orable competition to bring to perfection the products of the 

 garden. 



The show consisted of two parts, the single specimens and the 

 collections. The single specimens alone were not a whit behind 

 former years. "We were pleased to notice among the contribu- 

 tors, editors, doctors, lawyers, master mechanics, as well as 

 farmers and gardeners, showing that men of every class still 



