xlii EEPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



met at the steamboat landing, on the afternoon of the first day, by 

 the president of the Society, Andrew M. Myrick, Esq., who at once 

 accompanied me to the fair-grounds, situated about one mile fi'om 

 the town. 



As one of the local institutions of the island, the cattle-show and 

 fair forms an interesting feature, and to a considerable extent the 

 business of the place Ts suspended during a portion of the time. 

 One of the best evidences of the continued interest in the welfare of 

 this Society is manifested in the large number of entries that are 

 made in all the departments. 



I found in the stalls a good show of stock, which compared favor- 

 ably with any of the previous j'ears. The farmers of Nantucket 

 pride themselves in raising the best quality of milch cows, and the 

 exhibition of a large number of very fine Alderney, Durham, Ayrshire, 

 Jersey and native cows was highly creditable to them. 



There were seven entries of working-oxen, and a very good show 

 of horses, sheep, swine and poultry. The ploughing-match, with 

 both oxen and horses, took place on the first day. There were nine 

 entries. After the ploughing-matches followed the sports of the 

 apple race and the wheelbarrow feat. 



The trotting-match had attracted a large number, but there were 

 but two entries, and as the time made was not very satisfactory^ a 

 good deal of disappointment was manifested by the crowd. 



I will take occasion here to refer to the advantages which the 

 farmer of Nantucket has within his reach, in that of the " kelp of 

 the sea," found so abundantly upon her shores. This is made mani- 

 fest b}' the experiment recently made upon the model Spottswood 

 farm of F. C. Sanford, Esq. During the winter of 1874-5, the 

 laborers upon his farm carted from the seashore 650 loads of kelp, 

 which was spread upon about 12 acres. It was spread six inches 

 thick, and when ploughed in the spring, one man followed the coul- 

 ter to clear it from the kelp. Eight acres and three-quarters were 

 planted with corn ; the balance with turnips, beets, potatoes and 

 carrots. Pumpkin seeds were put in the corn hills. Upon this land 

 was produced 600 bushels of handsome shell corn, 1,200 bushels of 

 turnips, 500 bushels of carrots, and 300 bushels of beets. Some of 

 the carrots measured 14 inches in circumference. In addition to this 

 were harvested 50 heavy loads of pumpkins. 



Mr. Sanford laid down 15 acres the last season to oats and grass 

 seed, where crops were cultivated the j-ear previous. The oats were 

 cut in the milk and produced 20 tons ! He has made since January 

 1, 1875, 2,000 pounds of the best quality of butter, which he has 

 sold for 50 cents per pound. In addition to this he made 300 



