64 



Gratuities of $i.oo each to C. H- Buxton and W. B. Richards, 

 Salem ; A. P. Blake, Peabody ; A. H. Gould and J. Waters, 

 Topsfield ; S. A. Merrill, J. W. Porter, J. W. Ropes, J. L. Smart, 

 S. D. Spaulding, M. Welch, E. Bradstreet, Horatio Perry and 

 H. G. Hyde, Danvers; W. H. Patch, Rockport. 



There were upon the tables 334 plates of apples from 122 con- 

 tributors, and it would be singular if some that were worthy of 

 notice had not been overlooked. Your Committee do not claim 

 to be perfect, and any oversight in these awards we trust will be 

 pardoned. 



The most noticeable apple u})on the table was the Porter, of 

 which there were many fine specimens, and it is a singular fact 

 that this, one of the best of fall apples, is a regular odd year 

 bearer ; So it has been for several years past, and it is worthy of 

 note too, that nearly all of our best and most profitable apples 

 had their origin in this immediate vicinity. This is true of the 

 Baldwin, Hubbardston, Nonsuch, Roxbury Russet, Porter, 

 Hunt's Russet &c.; we were pleased to see more and better 

 specimens of this last than we have ever before seen at any ex- 

 hibition. This certainly is a step in advance, as the cjuality of 

 this apple is hardly surpassed by any other winter fruit. W^e 

 would like to see another apple of the very best quality more 

 extensively cultivated, viz — the Garden Royal, which during its 

 season (September) is surpassed by none. We cannot too 

 strongly recommend that quality instead of quantity be more 

 sought after in the selection of varieties. Such kinds as Wil- 

 liam's Favorite, Sweet Bough, Gravestein, Garden Royal and 

 Hunt's Russet are very far in advance of Alexander, Drap d'Or, 

 Gloria Mundi and several others of this sort wliich figured con- 

 spicuously upon our tables. 



As this is not the "apple year" it was not to be expected that 

 the tal)les would be loaded with the finest specimens, free from 



