80 TRANSACTIONS, &lc. 



In the exercise of their " discretionary power of withholding pre- 

 miums, where, in their opinion, the articles exhibited did not merit 

 them," the Committee refrained from awarding some of the prizes. 

 In two instances, indeed, the articles for which premiums were 

 offered, were not represented on the Society's tables. On the other 

 hand, there were several very superior specimens of vegetables for 

 -which the Society had not ofiered any prizes. To the contributors 

 of some of these, the Committee recommended that the above- 

 named gratuities should be given. 



This report would be manifestly incomplete, without some expla- 

 notion of the reasons which influenced the Committee in awarding 

 the prizes. While the first premium was, unanimously and without 

 argument, awarded to Mr. Bickford, the others were less easily dis- 

 posed of, and it was found quite difiicult to decide whether IMr. 

 Goulding or Mr. Dresser ought to receive the second.' The collec- 

 tion of the latter named gentleman was the largest, but the several 

 articles in Mr. Goulding's were the better grown, especially his 

 Beets, Turnips, and Sweet Corn ; and so, after mxich comparison 

 and consultation, the second premium was awarded to Mr. Goulding, 

 and the third to Mr. Dresser. The fourth prize was given to Mr. 

 Washburn, whose collection, though smaller than the others, was 

 composed of exceedingly well grown specimens of most valuable 

 vegetables. The Committee felt it their duty to be influenced chiefly 

 by the quality of the articles which came under their examination ; 

 for if a quantity of vegetables, merely, can lay claim to the Society's 

 premiums, it would be difficult to explain the utility of this depart- 

 ment of the exhibition. 



Among the articles particularly noticed, although not offered for 

 premium, was half a bushel of fine large Sweet Potatoes, raised in 

 Millbury, bp Mr. Jewett. Although it is hardly to be supposed that 

 this species of the potato can be profitably cultivated in so cold a 

 climate as ours, still the success of Mr. Jewett, the past season, and 

 of Mr. Forbush, of Grafton, in former seasons, has abundantly proved 

 that a good crop of this excellent vegetable can be raised here, in 

 favorable locations, at a cost not greatly exceeding that of importing 

 from the South. 



The Committee were much pleased, also, with the appearance of 

 a plate of Seedling Peach Blow Potatoes, exhibited by Mr. A. C. 

 Burnett, of Worcester. These potatoes were " three years from 

 the seed," resembling the parent potato in form, and especially in 



