306 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



half; but if less in quantity, I think they could hardly have 

 been excelled in quality. There were 298 plates of apples, 

 containing a large number of varieties, and the specimens gen- 

 erally large and fair. 257 plates of pears were exhibite?d, of 

 most approved varieties, many of them of rare excellence in 

 size and beauty ; and could a more thorough examination have 

 been made, 1 have no doubt it would have been found that the 

 outward was a true criterion of the inner quality. 



Among the contributors were Dr. Fisher, W. G. Wyman, 

 Dr. T. R. Boutelle ; Messrs. Crocker, Leath, Sawyer, Works, 

 Twichell and others, of Fitchburg, and Mr. Fay, of Ashby. Of 

 the two first named, the State Board have had ample knowledge 

 of their skill and success in the cultivation of fruits of various 

 kinds ; and while, in most parts of this Commonwealth, success 

 is sure to follow skilful cultivation, I cannot but think this a 

 favored section for fruit-growing. 



Grapes, in splendid clusters and great profusion, graced the 

 tables. Delawares, Concords, Rebeccas, Dianas, with some 

 other kinds, composed the varieties. The contributors were 

 nearly the same as of the other fruits. The Delawares, by C. 

 A.. Emory, and others, were very fine, and the Concords, by 

 W. G. Wyman, were very large and nice. 



On the sides of the hall were arranged the cereals, roots and 

 vegetables of all kinds, and some of the vegetables large enough 

 to satisfy any one. The dairy was but very slightly represented. 

 There were a few boxes of butter, that looked inviting, and only 

 two samples of cheese. But little attention is given, by the 

 farmers in this section, to making cheese ; they generally, I 

 believe, produce milk, for which they find a ready market and, 

 I have no doubt, at a more remunerative price than to manu- 

 facture into butter and cheese ; and thereby relieve the female 

 part of the family of much care and labor. The upper end of 

 the hall was rendered attractive by the exhibition of drawings 

 and paintings, with some of the mechanic arts. Specimens of 

 Mr. Sawyer's projectiles, manufactured in Fitchburg, are among 

 the articles of interest at this time. 



At the lower end of the room were patent articles, such as 

 are vended about the country and found useful in every family. 

 Among them I noticed a basket for gathering and emptying 

 fruit, simple but useful. An admission fee of ten cents was 



