8 Report of Committees. 



Best one acre Barley, Jacob Van Deusen, Great Barrington, •. $5 



2d do., B. Looniis, Egreinont, 4 



3d do. , H. M. Baldwin, West Stockbridge, 2 



Best three acres Cultivated Grass. H. C. Byington, Stockbridge, 7 



2d do., Michael Hayes, New Marlboro, 6 



3d do. , Merritt I. Wheeler, Great Barrington, 5 



4th do., Daniel Warner. Great Barrington, 4 



5th do., Henry Rowe, Egremont, 3 



(5th do., George F. Woodin, Sandisfield, 2 



Best five acres Cultivated Grass, T. S. Baldwin, Egremont, 7 



2d do., John B. Walker, New Marlboro, 5 



3d do., Henry L. Smith, Lee, 3 



B. N. CLARK,) n ... 

 L. K. KLINE, | Comm1 ^. 



GARDENS. 



Committee on Gardens report 20 entries. Vegetable Gardens by professional 

 or hired gardeners, 3 ; Vegetable Gardens by competitors not professional, 12 ; 

 Flower Gardens, by competitors not professional, 5. No Flower Gardens by pro- 

 fessional or hired gardeners entered. 



The Committee on Gardens in their examination found most of the 

 gardens in good condition with some few exceptions, so good gener- 

 ally that in some cases it was difficult to decide between them. When 

 we consider that a good garden is one of the best investments a man 

 oan make, it would seem to pay to add thought and observation to 

 experience, for thereby a family may be furnished with a good varie- 

 ty of fresh vegetables at any time in their season. But a garden 

 must have close attention that the weeds may not get the start, for 

 if the grounds are kept clean one year it will be much easier to culti- 

 vate the next, and the better way to do that is to get two crops on 

 the same ground as much as possible. Where early peas and pota- 

 toes grew, celery, late cabbage for winter use, cauliflower and turnips 

 can be raised which will keep the ground cultivated and prevent the 

 too common growth of weeds after early vegetables are disposed of. 

 We found a lack of cauliflower, celery and melons ; few had either, 

 much as they add to the luxuries of the table. The raising of mel- 

 ons is attended with many discouragements, some of which may be 

 overcome. Melons, as well as all vines, should be manured heavily 

 in the hill with fine manure, should be started early and protected 

 by boxes covered on the top with thin cloth, till out of danger from 

 frost and bugs. Against nightly intruders I make no suggestions, 

 leaving each one to protect the ripe melons as his judgment may direct. 



We also had the pleasure of visiting five flower-gardens ; most of 

 them showed both careful attention and skill in the management, and 

 the wonder is that every home, however humble, has not its flower 

 garden, for it not only adds to the beauty of every home but also to 

 the health of the ladies, for it calls them from their cares into th e 

 fresh air and sunshine, and is more of a recreation than an added bur- 

 den, and we found where the flower gardens were best cared for, 

 household duties were not neglected, and the womanly graces flour- 

 ished like the flowers. 



One word to my successor, whoever he may be, if he has as agree- 



