REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 333 



The ploughing match came off at two o'clock. Only three 

 teams entered — two horse and one ox team. The land was 

 struck out and well ploughed by each competitor. 



At the hall, in the centre of the town, was as fine a collection 

 of vegetables as could be found in any county. The butter was 

 excellent, and did credit to tlie ladies that are always ready to 

 assist at the exhibitions. Fruit culture has not been attended 

 to until a few years past. There were several well-known sorts 

 of apples, that compared favorably with those brought from 

 other counties. About fifty sorts of pears ; some leading vari- 

 eties were very fine. The increase in pear-raising is five hundred 

 per cent, since the society's first exhibition. Greenhouse grapes 

 were excellent. Several of the best native grapes were well 

 ripened. Lawton blackberries, in perfection, were seen at this 

 late season. Flowers were handsomely arranged, showing many 

 new and rare sorts. 



Fancy articles and handiwork of domestic manufacture were 

 less than usual, owing to the ladies and misses having devoted 

 much time in aid of the soldiers, instead of this department. 



Until within a few years, a large proportion of the vegetables 

 used in this county have been brought to the island, where now 

 enough is raised to supply all demands ; and so also of the hay 

 crop. There are thousands of acres of swamp lands, that can 

 be made to produce cranberries or made into good hay-meadows, 

 that the society has now offered premiums for reclaiming. 



In conclusion, I would say, that in every department there 

 appears a harmony and interest of all parties to make the two 

 days of the annual exhibition the grand gala days of the year ; 

 and where such feelings are cultivated, a larger interest must 

 grow out of them to further increase the usefulness of the 

 society. 



James Thompson. 



MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 



The sixth annual cattle-show and fair of the Martha's Vine- 

 yard Agricultural Society, was held on the fair-grounds, at 

 West Tisbury, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 20th and 21st 

 days of October. 



