MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 141 



Bread. 



There were thirty-three competitors, representing every sec- 

 tion, and about half the towns in the county. The loaves were 

 placed upon a table, with a ticket attached to each, bearing 

 only the number of the entry ; they presented a goodly and at- 

 tractive spectacle. A package of papers, containing the state- 

 ments of the mode of making and baking, with the names of 

 the makers respectively, was delivered to the committee. 



Before proceeding to examine the specimens before them, it 

 seemed to be essential that the committee should determine 

 what qualities were to be sought, and considered as requisite 

 to good bread. Upon conference, there was found to be no 

 difference of opinion, and the rule agreed on, by which their 

 judgment should be guided, was as follows : — 



The best bread should be sweet, light, white ; it should be 

 of uniform texture throughout the whole loaf, and of as fine 

 and close grain as is consistent with being perfectly light, with- 

 out being dry ; the crust should be neither hard nor tough, and 

 of even thickness and consistency over the whole loaf ; the 

 loaf should be thoroughly and equally baked throughout, no 

 part being scorched or burned ; and these conditions being 

 observed, the simpler and fewer the materials used, the greater 

 is the credit due to the artist. 



Supposing that a great variety might be found in the man- 

 ner of making, as well as the materials, the committee deter- 

 mined first to satisfy themselves, which was the best bread in 

 itself, without adverting to the way in which it was made, and 

 to secure impartiality, without knowing the name of the maker. 

 Each specimen was lifted, examined on the outside, cut in two 

 from top to bottom, smelled, tasted, and the section thus ex- 

 posed carefully inspected, by each member of the committee ; 

 and each set down for himself a number expressive of the de- 

 gree of merit, which in his judgment, it possessed. These 

 numbers ranged from 10, expressive of the highest merit, to 0. 

 When the whole had been gone through, the numbers set to 

 each by the several members of the committee, were added to- 

 gether, and the aggregates compared. 



