APPENDIX. xxi 



handiwork. The entries, both on the gi-ounds and in the hall, were 

 numerous and of good quality. From the report of the society I 

 learn that, among the noticeable features of the show, " were one 

 hundred and two varieties of apples, and three hundred and two 

 dishes ; three hundred and flft3^-eight dishes of pears, embracing 

 ninet}' varieties ; one hundred and four dishes of grapes, and forty- 

 five varieties ; upwards of two hundred pot-plants, floral designs 

 and bouquets ; one hundred and twenty-eight sheep ; one hundred 

 and thirty-nine swine, and one hundred and eighty-nine poultry ; 

 while the beef-cattle, cows, heifers and horses have never been sur- 

 passed at any previous exhibition of the societ3^ There was a 

 ploughing-match, exhibition of horses, trial of draught-horses, 

 and of working oxen ; rural sports, and a dinner in the hall of the 

 society." 



The committees of this society set a good example in the prepara- 

 tion of their reports. The statements of the competitors are care- 

 full}' examined by them, and the deductions to be made are care- 

 fully drawn. By them we learn, in the matter of crops, that in corn 

 crops entered by Hon. Albert Fearing : — " Where, last 3'ear, there 

 were one hundred and twelve bushels of yellow corn, costing sixty- 

 nine cents per bushels, this year's 3'ield weighs but eighty-one bush- 

 els, costing ninety-four cents per bushel. The yield of Whitman 

 corn, this year, is at the rate of eighty-sfven bushels to the acre, 

 costing but eighty-four cents per bushel, while that of last year was 

 one hundred and five bushels to the acre, costing seventj^-four cents 

 per bushel : " — the difference being attributable mainly to the inaus- 

 picious weather during the entire corn season. The statement with 

 regard to root-crops is interesting. Two-thirds of an acre of man- 

 gel-wurzel cost $129.25 ; two-thirds of an acre of ruta-bagas cost 

 $94.25. The yield of the former was 2,088 bushels to the acre ; the 

 yield of the latter was 912 bushels to the acre. In the report upon 

 sheep it appears that thirty-nine old sheep, ten yearlings and three 

 bucks, yielded in wool and lambs, in the year 1872, $541.08 ; three 

 sheep, belonging to Messrs. Jones, j^ielded, in 1870, $39.20 ; in 

 1871, $74.20 ; and in 1872, $54.27. In the report upon ploughing, 

 the committee wisely remark: — "We think a plough should be so 

 constructed as to run a good furrow alone ; that is, it should be so 

 balanced as to move steadily and be under the perfect control of the 

 ploughman without great labor, and a saving would then be made 

 by his being his own driver." 



The exhibition of horses was good ; that of poultry excellent ; 

 and that of swine up to the standard long ago established by this 

 society. 



In every respect the Hingham Society reflects credit upon those 



