xxvi REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



the hall, Mr. Warner was obliged to fill up the tables with purchased 

 fruit ; but under his management the exhibition has continued to 

 improve in quantity and quality, until the hall is now too small to 

 accommodate the contributions. Mr. Warner himself had 92 vari- 

 eties of choice fruit on exhibition ; 95 varieties were also shown by 

 F. D. Fiske, of Shelburne. In the display of apples, W. and G. H. 

 Stewart, of Coleraine, were ahead in the best display in the hall. 

 A. P. Cooley, of Deerfield, showed 95 excellent varieties of miscel- 

 laneous fruit. In the displa} T of grapes, Jacob Sleeglieder, of Shel- 

 burne Falls, bore off the palm. Edward H. Judd and son, of South 

 Hadley, had also a profuse exhibition of this fruit. The Judds also 

 entered 26 varieties of choice pears. Baskets of miscellaneous fruit 

 were entered by Misses E. M. Wells and C. E. Peck, and Mrs. C.E. 

 Bardwell and J. D. Peck, all of Shelburne, which were veiy attrac- 

 tive. The display of vegetables was not large, but of the best 

 quality. W. L. Warner presented some mammoth squashes, — two 

 of his " Marbleheads " turning the scales at 239 pounds. 



The floral display was also beautiful. This was enhanced by an 

 exquisite array of choice cut-flowers, furnished hy L. M. He3 T wood, 

 of Greenfield. An unique affair was that of a large agricultural 

 wreath, representing birds, flowers, etc., the whole made of seeds by 

 Mrs. C. P. C. Miner, of Charlemont. 



The weather continued pleasant on the third day, and the attend- 

 ance was larger than at an}- time since the fair was opened, the crowd 

 nearby filling the park to witness the morning sports. It opened with 

 music from a full band, and an exhibition of lads' horsemanship, for 

 which there were ten entries ; and this feature of the show proved 

 very attractive. Most of the lads, whose ages ranged from six to 

 sixteen years of age, were on horseback, and handled the ribbons 

 admirably. There were but two entries to the exhibition of ladies' 

 horsemanship, and the first premium was taken by Mrs. O. Morgan, 

 of Shelburne. The crowd, which nearly filled the park to witness 

 the morning sports, was largely augmented in the afternoon, and the 

 balloon ascension was probably witnessed by from 12,000 to 15,000 

 people. The inflation of the balloon, which was placed in close 

 proximity to the village gas-house, was begun at an early hour. At 

 four o'clock, one hour after the ascension, it could still be seen about 

 as large as a man's head, and dimty fading from the sight. 



Another of the important and interesting features of the fair, was 

 the farmers' festival, given at Franklin Hall on the afternoon of the 

 second day. This was largely attended by the membei's and invited 

 guests. A blessing was invoked by the Rev. J. F. Moors ; and when 

 it came to the feast of reason, Imla K. Rrown, of Bernardston, the 

 president of the society, spoke of its growth and flattering prospects. 



