REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 109 



have thought it proper to make such a report to the Board as 

 may give the necessary information in reference to it. 



As the Society was incorporated at a very late period of the 

 last session of the legislature, a short time only was afforded 

 after the organization was completed, to raise the necessary 

 funds, and to make such preparations as v/ould give efficiency 

 to the exhibition. Notwithstanding the difficulties which pre- 

 sented themselves, the exhibition proved to be of a character to 

 gratify those interested in the society, and to afford the promige 

 of much future benefit. 



The display of fruit was very fine, and the great variety and 

 beauty of the apples can rarely be excelled in any portion of 

 the State. The peculiar character of the soil in the northern 

 portion of Middlesex county, have, perhaps, turned the attention 

 of the farmers residing there to this particular branch of agri- 

 culture, as that likely to return to tliem the surest and largest 

 profit which they can hope to realize from their labors, upon 

 land naturally rough and sterile, and many have thus become 

 deeply interested, not only in the practical details of fruit 

 growing, but also in the more perfect and scientific prosecution 

 of the subject, and the consequences have been a more correct 

 nomenclature, preventing the same fruit from exhibition under 

 a variety of names, and the rejection of many varieties which 

 have not, upon trial, been proved to be of the first value. 



The exhibition of vegetables was respectable in variety and 

 quality, but not of such marked excellence as is sometimes 

 seen, or as may be looked for hereafter. 



The display of farm stock was not one calling for special 

 commendation. Some fine cattle were presented ; but it must 

 be borne in mind that the section of country included within 

 the limits of the society, is not, for the most part, a good graz- 

 ing country, and before it would be consonant with good econo- 

 my for the farmers in North Middlesex to pay the high prices 

 demanded for the best foreign breeds of cattle, some more eco- 

 nomical method of feeding must be generally adopted than is 

 now in use. W^arj few animals are now pastured in this section 

 which do not find it necessary to labor as hard, and as many 

 hours per day for their support as do the farmers who own 

 them ; and the returns from animals requiring high feeding, 

 11 



