REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES. 307 



mens were such as could hardly be excelled, and all were uote- 

 worthy products of skilful cultivation. The high praise which 

 was accorded them is good evidence of the value set upon this 

 branch of our exhibitions. The money value of the prizes is 

 small ; that alone cannot be the impelling motive. Rather the 

 spirit of rivalry among contributors, which springs from compar- 

 ing individual results, and the visibly increasing public interest 

 manifested in om- exhibitions, have resulted in giving us a higher 

 standard of excellence in our products, and are important 

 elements in our success. 



For much of the interest attending the weekly exhibitions, 

 especially those of the earlier part of the season, the Society is 

 under obligations to Messrs. George Hill, Cephas H. Brackett, 

 W. ^Y. Rawson, George F. Stone, William D. Philbrick, Josiah 

 Crosby, Mrs. Francis B. Hayes, and others, who have made 

 frequent exhibition of forced vegetables in great variety. Their 

 contributions consisted of Cucumbers, Radishes, Lettuce, Mush- 

 rooms, Brussels Sprouts, Dandelions, Rhubarb, Asparagus, Toma- 

 toes, and Parsley. The especially fine specimens of Asparagus 

 and Rhubarb shown February 7, were from Mrs. Francis B. 

 Hayes. As a very successful cultivator of the Mushroom, Cephas 

 H. Brackett has for several seasons won distinction. He has 

 uniformly shown the best specimens, and taken the first prizes. 

 To judge from the character of the exhibits he has made, he 

 evidently believes that " if a thing is worth doing at all it is worth 

 doing well." AVe have certainly seen abundant proofs of this at 

 frequent exhibitions, and of his skill in producing only the choicest 

 and best specimens of whatever he undertakes to grow. As a 

 contributor of forced vegetables he has shown a commendable zeal 

 in sustaining our winter and early spring shows. Now that we are 

 to have, in the coming season, a full list of prizes for vegetables 

 grown under glass, we have ground for hoping that this important 

 and very rapidh" increasing branch of horticulture will become a 

 yet more prominent feature in our exhibitions. 



The liberal increase in the amount placed at the disposal of the 

 Committee, for prizes and gratuities during the coming year, has 

 enabled them to offer a list of premiums for forced vegetables to 

 be shown in the month of April, and also to make other and 

 important additions and alterations in the Schedule. A glance at 

 the prize list for 1886 will show an appropriation of $1,000 for 



