204 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the soil to the production of these most valuable fruits was 

 every where manifested by the profusion in which they every 

 where grew, when any attention was paid to their cultivation. 



The roots, too, were as fine as ever grew. Turnips, Swedes, 

 carrots and mangolds were all shown of the best. 



There were five entries of butter, some of which was very 

 superior, and a cheese, excellent in appearance, made by Mrs. 

 Charles C. Folger, deserves most creditable mention, as being 

 the first one made in Nantucket within the memory of this 

 generation. 



In the evening the hall was crowded, and the time agreeably 

 passed in social intercourse, listening to charming music by a 

 glee club of the town, and to remarks by different gentlemen. 



The delegate had the honor to respond to a sentiment com- 

 plimentary to the State Board. 



The morning of the second day was occupied in the exhibition 

 of horses, of which there was a very fair show of driving horses, 

 but no trials of speed that would have disturbed the equanimity 

 of even the most fastidious member of the Board for 1856. 

 There was one fine stallion, " Rising Sun," brought from Maine, 

 and some very promising colts. At two o'clock was the plough- 

 ing match, in which competed six teams. The work was well 

 done, though the furrow was shallower than is customary in 

 other counties. 



At four o'clock, under the escort of the Nantucket Cornet 

 Band, which played exceedingly well on both days, we marched 

 to the church, where we listened to a most admirable address 

 from Dr. George B. Loring. 



The hall was again densely crowded in the evening, and all 

 were pleased and instructed by the music and by the very happy 

 remarks of Dr. Loring, Judge Marston, and Maj. Phinncy, of 

 the Barnstable Society. 



Through the kindness of Capt. Gardner, I was enabled to see 

 the whole island, and to visit several farms, and I was surprised 

 to witness its capacity as an agricultural district, and its suscep- 

 tibility of improvement. 



The island contains about 20,000 acres of unimproved and 

 unincloscd land. The soil is light, easily worked, and most 

 kindly in its reception of seed and return of harvest. The 

 land that has once been improved shows for years most unusual 



