294 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



useful purpose, — pecuniary profit, or health and enjoyment, or 

 mental improvement, may be the prevailing motive. 



William C. Fowler, Chairman. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



Report of the Committee on Bread. 



Accordino; to the best recollection of vour committee, the first 

 successful bread-maker of whom we have any account, was 

 Mrs. Abraham ; who, on a certain occasion, by the direction of 

 her husband, took " three measures of fine meal," and, after 

 kneading, baked it on the hearth. This was before the inven- 

 tion of brick ovens and cooking stoves ; but she might have had 

 one of those old-fashioned tin ovens, which, on the hearth before 

 a brisk fire, performed its work finely. Whether she did or 

 not is a matter of little consequence ; but she made bread of 

 the first quality — fit for angels to eat. From the days of that 

 lady to the present time, the art of bread-making has been one of 

 prime importance, and it will always continue so. We sincerely 

 hope the ladies of the present day will, in tins respect, follow 

 the example of their " illustrious predecessor," while they are 

 not a whit behind her in the moral virtues. Judging from the 

 exhibition of to-day, tliere is many a fair bread-maker, who is 

 worthy of being the wife of as worthy a husband as Abraham. 

 Such white loaves as those on which we feasted our eyes and 

 our tastes we have seldom seen. We are convinced that, not- 

 withstanding it is written, " man shall not live by bread alone," 

 yet that he might do so with pleasure and profit. Your com- 

 mittee did not stop to inquire if the hands that made this bread 

 were decked with rings and accustomed to the piano ; neither 

 do we care. Only give us the bread first; and, afterwards, 

 things less necessary, ad infinitum. This being the opinion of 

 the committee, we say to all mothers, teach your daughters to 

 make bread, and to take pride in making ^ood bread, fit for a 

 king's — that is, a farmer's table. Then, and only then, should 

 they aspire to the honor and dignity of presiding at his table. 

 As the bread was all good, we have awarded, in addition to the 

 premiums, to each of our fair bread-makers, A Farmer. 



Levi Stockbridge, Chairman. 



