REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES. 151 



obligations to Josiah Crosby, Walter Russell, John Fillebrown, 

 George "W. Pierce, and George F. Stone, who have shown fine speci- 

 mens of forced vegetables, in large quantities and great variety. 

 Messrs. Gai field, Mellen, Child, and others who might be men- 

 tioned, have been large contributors, and have placed upon our 

 tables, from time to time, many objects of superior quality. So 

 numerous and excellent have been the specimens exhibited in 

 competition for the prizes, that the Committee have in some 

 instances been embarrassed in making their awards. On several 

 occasions during the season, specimens have been presented so 

 nearly equal in size, beauty, and quality, that the Committee found 

 it not always an easy task to decide which were best. They have, 

 however, in all cases strenuously endeavored to do exact justice to 

 the diflferent competitors in making their awards ; and if they have, 

 in any case, failed in this respect, they can only say that they 

 have acted according to their best judgment, and have been 

 unanimous in opinion. Your Committee regret that in one or two 

 instances they have been obliged to disqualify otherwise worthy 

 contributions (which would have received the first prize) for 

 containing more than the number of specimens called for in the 

 schedule. It was undoubtedly an oversight, but the rule on this 

 subject being imperative, the Committee were obliged to enforce it. 



The Annual Exhibition was in all respects a good one. The 

 display of vegetables was fully up in quantity, while many of the 

 objects shown have more nearly approached perfection than hereto- 

 fore. In some instances, however, the exhibitor has made the 

 mistake of exposing his largest specimens, without regard to form 

 or quality. The rage for overgrown beets and mammoth squashes 

 it is hoped has gone by ; they are always coarse-grained and 

 watery, only fit for stock feeding. Quickly grown, medium sized, 

 clean and smooth specimens are far preferable for the table, or for 

 taking a prize at a horticultural exhibition, and your Committee 

 would intimate to contributors that in making their awards, they 

 will regard the above requisites as of more importance than great 

 size. 



The display of potatoes at the annual exhibition was remarkably 

 fine, Samuel Hartwell showing the largest collection and greatest 

 number of varieties. Very fine collections were also exhibited by 

 Mrs. M. T. Goddard, G. W. Pierce, C. G. Pringle, Walter Rus- 

 sell, John L. De Wolf and S. A. Merrill. In the collection of E. 



