NANTUCKET SOCIETY. xlix 



the following varieties, — Light and Dark Bramahs, Pl^'mouth 

 Rocks, Games, Partridge, and "White Cochins. At two o'clock 

 the ploughing-match took place on the society's grounds. There 

 were five contestants, and the work was all well done. 



Following the above were several athletic games, for which vari- 

 ous pilzes had been offered by the society. They proved a source 

 of entertainment to both old and 3'oung. The first on the list, 

 was the " running high jump," for which there were ten entries. 

 R. Coffin jumped away with the first prize. He cleared the crossbar 

 at four feet four inches ; J. M. Folger, jun., four feet two inches ; 

 and W. Gardner, at four feet. 



The second of the games was " putting the heavy stone." The 

 stone weighed twenty-one pounds and a half. J, M. Folger, jun., 

 " put it " twenty-five feet two inches ; A. Chase, twenty-three feet 

 fom- inches ; and E. Young, twenty-two feet. The thu-d game was 

 the ball target game, in which there were twenty-six entries. Out 

 of this number but three hit the target at all, and not one was fortu- 

 nate enough to secure the prize. The attractions of the ground 

 closed with the game ; and the people slowly wended their way 

 homeward to prepare to visit the hall or fair, where was to be seen 

 one of the finest display's of vegetables, manufactures, &c., ever 

 presented for inspection. The main hall presented a verj' attrac- 

 tive appearance in its dress of bunting, flags, «S:c., while the tables 

 themselves were loaded down with prett}^ fineries. On the wall over 

 the rostrum was the motto, " Glorious is the "Work of the Husband- 

 man ; " on the east side, " Welcome to our Island Fair ; " west side, 

 " The Farmer's Crop is the Blessing of God ; " south side, " Indus- 

 try- in Agriculture is the Twin-Brother to Thrift." Directl}- under 

 the chandeUer, in the centre of the hall, was a square table, on 

 which was a pot of plants from a number of cultivators. On the 

 square in the centre was a miniature building of a style of archi- 

 tecture altogether unknown to us, but certainly verj- pretty. The 

 outside covering was of glass, and filled with a number of plants, 

 maldng a very handsome centre-piece. The building was made by 

 Capt. Manter of the Island Home. Thm'sdaj'' was devoted to the 

 show of horses and colts. Quite a goodl}' number were entered in 

 the several classes. The show of colts was very good. One owned 

 b}' Charles F. Coffin was a superior animal. 



Vegetables. — The show of vegetables was good, the root-crops in 

 particular. There was a basket of Earl}' Rose potatoes from a lot 

 of three hundred and twenty bushels to the acre. 



Of butter there were six entries ; and the quaUty was excellent : 

 indeed it was extremely difficult for the committee to decide where 



to make the awards. 



7 



