258 FRANKLIN SOCIETY. 



what is clearly demonstrable, that, in the cultivation of fruit, 

 there is both pleasure and profit — that it conduces not only to 

 bodily health and comfort, but yields a greater pecuniary profit 

 than the same amount of labor, bestowed upon any other crops. 

 Before the introduction of railroads, fruit was of no value 

 with us, except so far as there was a home market. Now, 

 peaches are worth more in Greenfield than in Boston, and ap- 

 ples almost as much. No fear need be entertained of glutting 

 the fruit market. There will always be a demand for good 

 fruit. Crab apples, prickly pears, wild cherries, and fox 

 grapes will go a begging, while such fruit as has been ex- 

 hibited here to-day, will always find a ready sale, at remunera- 

 tive prices. But these fruits are not of spontaneous growth. 

 It is as unreasonable to look for large and fair apples upon neg- 

 lected trees, as for corn where no labor is bestowed. If we 

 would drink pure water, we must dig deep. If we would en- 

 joy the luxury of eating good fruit, we must labor for it ; 

 farmers must let the orchard and the fruit yard come in for a 

 share of their time and skill. 



R. B. HUBBARD, Chairman. 



Grain and Root Crops. 

 The following premiums have been awarded; to 



D. &. H. Wells, Shelburne, Indian corn, 1st premium, 

 Austin Rice, Conway do. do., 2d 



Duncan & Wells, Deerfield, broom corn, 1st 

 James Childs, do., do. do., 2d 



Aaron Buddington, Leyden, carrots, 1st 



The committee regret that so few entries have been made ; 

 but, when we take into consideration the unusually short crops 

 of the most extensively cultivated grains in this section, we are 

 not surprised that many of our farmers are unwilling to make 

 a public statement of this year's produce, as it would compare 

 unfavorably with past seasons, and could not be considered as 



