lii REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



should not be passed without notice. Evidence of some interest in 

 the culture of cranberries was found in several entries of this fruit, — 

 a single branch, with berries upon it^ showed the prolificness of this 

 fruit, exceptionall}', and the opportunity for improvement that may 

 be expected to come from the selection of the seed or cuttings from 

 the best vines, and successive plantings. I was told that a fair, 

 average yield, for a good piece of land well improved, is twenty-five 

 barrels a year. The round and the pear-shaped berr}- grow together, 

 but the round is preferable, as keeping longer. 



The butter was of good appearance, and notably uniform in color, 

 resulting, probably, from the absence of coloring-matter, and the 

 similarity in breed of the cattle from which it was produced. Some 

 eleven persons received premiums or gratuities. It is my impres- 

 sion, the society distributes mone}' very freely under the system of 

 gratuities, and that most of the entries draw something from the 

 treasury. 



The ladies' industrial department was not wanting in features of 

 interest. There was a quilt made by " a lady, 80 years old, of fine 

 linen, which she spun and wove from flax that grew upon her father's 

 farm." How suggestive is this of the old-time independence of the 

 farm life, when the family skill and the farm supplied nearly all of its 

 modest wants ! 



There was something done in the way of testing the strength and 

 patience of cattle ; and opportunity was given for persons to show 

 their skill in the handling of the plough. The encouragement 

 extended to the horse-interest cannot lead to a very rapid produc- 

 tion of professional jockeys. The track was soft, not altogether 

 level, and no great speed was attained. • The time, as given by the 

 committee, was 3.12, 3.28, 3.36, and three horses received premiums 

 in this order. 



The live-stock, other than horses, was shown the first daj T only. 

 I am informed the entries of cattle were near 100, — about the same 

 number of sheep, and 25 coops of poultry. 



The Wareham Band furnished music upon the grounds by day, 

 and each evening, in the upper hall, enlivened the dance. This was 

 apparently enjoyed by the young people, with somewhat of the 

 serious demeanor of the Puritan character ; while the gentlemen of 

 the benches — too modest to lead ladies to the floor — applauded, 

 admired, despaired, as the various phases of the occasion prompted. 

 It was pleasing to observe the bloom of health, and the light of 

 intelligence, mellowed by a choice moral culture, that lit up the 

 features of many persons, and to note the absence of the foreign 

 face, not yet attuned to bear the look of the standard American 

 citizen. 



