APPENDIX. xxvii 



The trial was however an interesting addition to the exercises of the 

 occasion. 



The show of stock was similar to that of last year. There were 

 a few A3'rshire cattle, of fair quality, and many grades of the same 

 breed. 



The sheep and swine were few in number and of mixed breeds for 

 the most pai't. 



The poultry exhibited some peculiar features. There were ducks 

 of three different crosses, viz. : the Muscovy and common domestic ; 

 the Rouen and the Mallard ; and the common, with some wild 

 species. 



The Canada or wild goose was represented by a pair which had 

 been in domestication fifteen years, and by a pair of their young, 

 the first they have ever raised. It is very unusual for this species 

 to breed in Massachusetts. 



Among the fowls was a buff Cochin hen with an astonishing 

 family of tweutj'-two chickens, reminding the observer of the old 

 woman who lived in a shoe. The statement on the coop declared 

 that this excellent mother laid twenty-two eggs, hatched every one 

 and brought up ever}- chick in the way it should go. 



The exhibition in the hall was inferior in the display of vegeta- 

 bles and cranberries, but unusuall}' good in apples, pears, peaches 

 and quinces. There were forty-six plates of grapes, seventeen of 

 peaches, eighty-two of pears, and one hundred and fifty-five of 

 apples. Most of the varieties were without names, and therefore 

 ought not to have competed for a premium. There were only a few 

 entries of the cereals ; but thirty-one of beans, which seem to thrive 

 on the sand}' soil of the island. 



There were twelve entries of butter, and the quality was superior, 

 but there was no evidence of cheese-factories. 



On the whole the society appears to be in good condition, but 

 really requiring the annual appropriation from the State to enable 

 it to keep up its exhibitions to a creditable standard. There is 

 almost everywhere a lack of capital emploj'ed in farming, and with 

 the exception of the cranberrj' there is no agricultural product of 

 special value. The price of land is however rising rapidly wher- 

 ever it is suitable for building sea-side residences, and the rapidly 

 increasing influx of summer residents promises to add materially 

 to the valuation of the real estate and the business of the Vine3'ard. 



The thanks of your delegate are due to Constant Norton, Esq., 

 president of the society, to Dr. Peirce, a former member of the 

 Board, and other gentlemen, for kind attention during his visit. 



Wm. S. Clark. 



