48 ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES, 



the better the shape of a leaf — a leaf of any plant or tree whatever, 

 by clipping it with scissors. The next most important study for ar- 

 tists, (and successful manufacturers of rugs are worthy to be ranked 

 as such,) is the choice oi a color for the back-ground, and the man- 

 agement of light and shade. The color of the back ground should 

 be such as will contrast well and give relief to all the colors in the 

 figures. And it should ever be rememberd that the sun never 

 shines on the opposite sides of a tree, plant or blossom at the same 

 time, and no picture can possess much merit, in the shading of 

 which this fact has been disregarded. 



Governed in some measure by these views, your Committee Re- 

 port that the show of rugs and braided mats was very superior. 



So numerous were the articles presented, and so many of nearly 

 equal beauty and other valuable qualities, that the Committee had 

 much difficulty in deciding, their respective claims to notice, the 

 premiums offered, and gratuities merited. The time allowed for ex- 

 amination was so short that it was impossible to compare each with 

 all in a satisfactory manner. They cannot therefore suppose that 

 they have done full justice to all the claimants. They were obliged 

 to be satisfied with doing as well as they could, under existing cir- 

 cumstances. Reserving therefore some hints for the Trustees, sug 

 gested by their experience on this occasion, in regard to the man- 

 agement of this part of the exhibition in future, your Committee rec- 

 ommend the following premiums and gratuities. 



Per order of the Committee, 



ANDREW NICHOLS, Chairman. 



Danvers, September 27, 1849. 



The Committee recommend the premiums and gratuities to be 

 awarded as follows, viz : 



COUNTERPANES. 



Helen M. Snell, Beverly, Knit Counterpane of 1,500,000 stitches, 

 first premium, S'i 00 



Margaret Healey, Salem, Knit Counterpane of 1,500,000 



stitches, second premium, 2 00 



R. Coburn, of Ipswich, Knit Counterpane, gratuity, 



50 



Mrs. Horace Bickford, of Newburyport, Silk Counterpane, 1 00 

 Mary A. Buflfum, of Salem, Counterpane, 50 



Mrs. H. West, of Haverhill, ^ do., 50 



