Ivi REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



The Indian corn, potatoes, roots and garden vegetables were 

 most excellent, and in great variety. In fact, larger, smoother, 

 more perfect specimens are rarely seen. One red field-beet weighed 

 thirty-five pounds, or more than half a bushel ; and the turnips of 

 several sorts were in nearly the same proportion. Nothing is more 

 evident than that the . soil is well suited to yield abundantly of 

 nearly all the crops usually cultivated in Massachusetts. 



The fruits were in considerable variety, and in some cases, of su- 

 perior qualities. Finer quinces or cranberries it would be difficult 

 to find. The town of Tisbury sent to market this season 100 bar- 

 rels of quinces and 1,000 barrels of cranberries. Some seedling ap- 

 ples were shown, which were said to be admirably suited to the 

 somewhat peculiar climate of this locality. Excellent peaches were 

 also exhibited, mostly of seedling varieties. 



Native grapes, in very compact clusters, and well ripened, were 

 displayed in profusion, as if to prove the propriety of the name, 

 Martha's Vineyard. There were several plates of tbe hardier sorts 

 of improved grapes of fair quality. The collection of fruit, wines, 

 jellies and preserves was extensive, the wife of the president of 

 the society leading off with twenty-one varieties. 



The tables were loaded with useful and ornamental articles, the 

 handiwork of the ladies, and handsomely adorned with bouquets of 

 autumnal flowers. The most noticeable of these consisted of im- 

 mense clusters of blue hydrangeas, which were grown without win- 

 ter protection, in the garden of the delegate to this Board, at Ohil- 

 mark. 



The number of neat cattle at the show was nearly 200, and in- 

 cluded a large number of excellent Ayrshires. This breed seems 

 to have been wisely chosen for the* improvement of the native 

 stock, and has already largely increased its value. 



The sheep of the island are a small, hardy breed, which, like the 

 native deer, are able to shift for themselves through the entire year. 

 When the land is covered with snow and ice, they are able to sub- 

 sist on the seaweed which is washed ashore by the cold, rough 

 waves of the Atlantic. These sheep dress about forty pounds, and 

 their fleeces weigh about three pounds. The quality of the wool is 

 very good. The treatment of this breed is such as none of our im- 

 proved breeds will endure, and therefore attempts to introduce 

 them have not resulted satisfactorily. 



The number of horses entered for premiums was only twenty- 

 eight, and these were not remarkable either for size or speed. But 

 little attention is given to breeding, and most of the horses in use 

 are imported from the main land, and the greater number of these 

 seem to have been selected in consideration of their past services 



