.54 TRANSACTIONS, &c. 



them from a responsibility which they have incurred, not only with- 

 out any direct or indirect partial advantage to themselves, but in 

 addition to great labor and responsibility, which they have borne in 

 the erection of this building. In case of the death, or removal from 

 this part of the country, of any of these signers, or of their insol- 

 vency, a great embarrassment would take place. I therefore take 

 the liberty to urge the necessity of the increase of the funds, by 

 enlarc^ino- the number of members or otherwise, for the relief of the 



^ ® • •1*1* 



signers of the note, who may vrithdraw from their responsibility, 

 when the debt shall be of such an amount, as to be a desirable in- 

 vestment on the security of the mortgage alone. I urge the diminu- 

 tion of the debt for another object — to increase the portion of income 

 applicable to premiums, so that the area of operations may be en- 

 larged. Without compensation, and with great expense and pains, 

 Mr. Forbush, of Bolton, the Messrs. Capron, of Uxbridge, Mr. 

 Bond of Brookiield, and other gentlemen from remote places, have 

 brought most valuable contributions to our shows. I desire to offer 

 to these gentlemen and to others, a better inducement, if not a full 

 compeasation, for the efforts which they so liberally and usefully 

 make. 



The practice of having weekly exhibitions in mid -summer, open 

 without fee to visitors, which was commenced last year, has been 

 continued in the past summer, and they have been acceptable, useful, 

 and very creditable to the Society. 



In the estimate of the character of this day's exhibition, it should 

 be remembered, that in all fruits, and especially in peaches, and the 

 earlier varieties of other fruits, there has been an unusual tendency 

 to decay, which greatly injured this department. The pears on the 

 tables are of a high degree of excellence, and it would seem, 

 in regard to some of them, the force of culture could no farther go. 

 The apples and quinces are fewer in number and inferior in quality 

 to those of former years, in consequence of the general inferiority 

 of these crops. The grapes, though rich and beautiful, are not su- 

 perior to the collections of the last year. The flowers were defaced 

 and reduced in number, by the large rain which occurred on the day 

 before th^ day of entry, and the forbidding character of the weather 

 deprived us of the presence of many friends, and of contributions in 

 every department. The collection of vegetables is very valuable 

 and attractive, and much better than in former years. 



