29 



'The Inspired penman, in enumerating the excellencies of a virtuous 

 vroman, says, " she layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold 

 the distafi': her household is clothed in scarlet, and her husband is kncwa 

 in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the city." 



To those Ladies who have been successful competitors for premiums 

 on this occasion, we have only to add, that ''many daughters have done 

 Tirtuously, but they have excelled them all." 

 Respectfully submitted. 



BEZALEEL TAFT, Jr. jjcr order, 



October 13, 1824. 



Committee on all Manufactured Articles other than of Cotton, 

 Wool, and Flax. 



Aaron Tufts, of Dudley, Chairman; Jason Mixter, of Hard- 

 wick ; John M. Earle, of Worcester ; John Spurr, of Charl- 

 ton ; Samuel Billing, and Samuel F. Cutler, of Hardwick. 



THE Committee on all Manufactured Article? other than of Cotton, 

 Wool, and Flax, have attended to the duties assigned them, and report 

 as follows : — 



For the best Sole Leather, not less than 100 lbs. they recommend a 

 premium of $10, to Phinehas Davis, Esq. of Northborough. Two other 

 lots of very good quality were offered. 



For the best manufactured Calf-Skins, not less than 12 in number, the 

 premium of $10, to W illiam Slocomb, of Northborough. Your Commit- 

 tee were somewhat at a loss in deciding between these Skins and two 

 other lots, one offered by Col. J. VV. Watson, of Princeton, and the other 

 by E. H. & J. Bowen, of Shrewsbury ; but on a careful examination we 

 inclined in favour of the former. The lot presented by E. H. & J. Bow- 

 en was manufactured in a superior manner, and would have been en- 

 titled to the premium if the tanning had been equal to the currying. 



Of Cider we had but one specimen, made by Rev. Joseph Goffe, of 

 Millbury, which is entitled to the premium of $6. Although but one 

 specimen of cider was this year offered, your Committee are satisfied of 

 the utility of continuing the encouragement of the Society to the making 

 of an improved quality of this cheap and wholesome beverage. It is be- 

 lieved there is no branch of the farmer's business so imperfectly under- 

 stood and managed as that of making cider, and none in which a little 

 addition of pains and expense would yield so great a profit. The exam- 

 ple of Newark is one which ought to be pressed upon the consideration 

 of our farmers. While ordinary cider sells at from one dollar to one dol» 

 lar fifty cents, theirs meets with a ready sale at from five to six dollars 

 per barrel, while the extra expense is not probably more than fifty cents. 

 By following the same course which they have pursued, we might sooa 

 rival them in the excellence of our liquor ; and the capital of our State 

 ■would no longer need to be dependent on New-Jersey for any portion of 

 the cider which they use. 



Of Butter there were fifteen parcels offered, most of which was very 

 excellent, and your Committee experienced some difficulty in deciding 

 on their relative quality ; but were finally unanimous in adjudging the 

 first premium, of $7, to Stillman Fitch, of Sterling, and the second pre- 

 jaium, of $5, to Rufus Hastings, of the same place. Another parcel of- 



