FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 417 



the first and most marked selections, were much embarrassed 

 in deciding on the merits of particular offerings. 



The show of pears also, from our vicinity, was most credit- 

 able, and our quinces and grapes were in excellent condition. 



It would be grateful to the committee, to enumerate and 

 refer in terms of praise to many of the specimens to which 

 they were unable to award premiums without increasing their 

 list beyond the just bounds of selection, but which were most 

 highly creditable to the cultivators, and will, we trust, return a 

 rich reward. 



Among the curiosities of the exhibition, the committee 

 noticed a plate of full grown cherries, in good condition, picked 

 from a tree in his garden, on the day of the exhibition, by Mr. 

 Elliot Wood, of Fitchburg. 



J. "W. Mansur, Chairman. 



HAMPDEN. 

 From the Report of the Committee. 



The collections, for various and obvious reasons, are mostly 

 small, at the present exhibition, but contain some specimens of 

 rare merit. Very few apples and peaches were on the stand, 

 but they were generally excellent. The latter were all of that 

 variety known as Crawford's Late Melocoton, and could hardly 

 be surpassed. 



We would especially call attention to the large and choice 

 collections of pears exhibited by Messrs. Bliss & Haven, and 

 by Mr. D. C. Brewer. These, with other fine samples from 

 the gardens of our citizens, show not only that more attention 

 is being devoted to the culture of this delicious fruit, but also 

 that our soil and climate are well adapted for that purpose. 

 We doubt whether finer specimens were ever produced than 

 some of those now in this exhibition. 



We naturally inquire then, why the pear culture is not more 

 extensively pursued ? Why does not every one who has a 

 spare corner in his yard or garden plant a tree, dwarf or 

 standard ? And why do not our cultivators supply our markets 

 with the finer varieties in sufficient quantities for table use ? 

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