ESSEX SOCIETY. 25 



and we are glad of an opportunity to add our testimony in 

 commendation of it. 



Two loaves of domestic bread of excellent quality, made 

 from flour and Indian meal, by Mrs. M. Williams, of Salem, to 

 whom is awarded seventy-five cents. 



The committee take pleasure in recommending a gratuity 

 for this sample of well made bread, and also recommend to the 

 Trustees, the establishment of an annual premium of sufficient 

 amount to induce competition in this indispensable article of 

 domestic economy. It seems incumbent on the society to 

 look after the bread as well as the butter of the community, as 

 these articles have a strong affinity for each other. It is a fact 

 as true as it is lamentable, that in the preparation of this essen- 

 tial article of our daily living, we are far behind other nations 

 of the earth. We fear that it has been the unfortunate experi- 

 ence of many of our society, to be called upon to partake of 

 bread made by unskilful hands from good flour, which has 

 been converted into a dry, tough, heavy, and indigestible mass, 

 noxious to the taste and highly deleterious to health. We 

 believe the society will be sustained by the general sentiment 

 of the community in any attempt to supply the people with 

 pleasant and nutritious bread. This article of food has, in all 

 ages, been considered the very staff" of life ; and all mankind, 

 even the most zealous opponents of capital punishment, have 

 approved of the act of Pharaoh in hanging his chief baker, 

 under the presumption that he was guilty of making bad 

 bread. 



FITCH POOLE, Chairman. 



Agricultural Implements. 



David Stiles, of Middleton, presented a machine for cutting 

 hay, &c., called the " Eagle Hay Cutter," for which he has 

 recently obtained a patent. The committee were very much 

 gratified with its operation in cutting hay, corn-stalks, &c., and 

 believe it equal to, if not the very best article of the kind, that 

 has ever come under their observation, and they cannot express 

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