No. 4.] RErORT OF SECRETARY. xxiii 



the various States to provide such an exhibit. Acting on recom- 

 mendation from your secretary, Massachusetts appropriated 

 $1,000 for her share in the exhibit. The other New England 

 States promised assistance, and it was thought that the project 

 would be amply financed. The burden was finally borne in the 

 main by this State. Vermont did all that she promised, con- 

 tributing between $250 and $300, and furnishing an excellent 

 exhibit of maple sugar. Rhode Island contributed $50 to the 

 general expenses. Maine contributed $75, and the Maine Cen- 

 tral Railroad sent on a few boxes of seed potatoes. Connecticut 

 furnished an exhibit of tobacco and paid the freight and cartage 

 charges on the same. New Hampshire had no share in the 

 exliibit. Your secretary's expenses for travel and necessary 

 .expenses were paid from the appropriation for that purpose, 

 and $1,016.98 was expended in the preparation and showing of 

 the exhibit, the slight overdraft being allowed by the Auditor. 

 It will be seen, therefore, that Massachusetts' share in the exhi- 

 bition was considerably in excess of that of all the other New 

 England States combined. 



A great deal of labor was involved in preparing the exhibit, 

 shipping to New York, setting up and attendance, and more of 

 care and planning. The result was very gratifying, the general 

 feeling being that New England had far eclipsed the west in 

 her showing of agricultural products. The backbone of the 

 exhibit was composed of New England apples, the best fruit 

 from the New England Fruit Show being sent to New York. 

 The 50 boxes of Mcintosh Reds purchased from Mr. A. A. 

 Marshall of Fitchburg, Mass., were generally conceded to be 

 the finest apples in the garden, and much regret was expressed 

 that they had not been entered for the sweepstakes prize of 

 $500, which they would probably have won if entered in the 

 name of the owner. This was flanked on one hand by the 

 tobacco exhibit from Connecticut and the maple-sugar exhibit 

 from Vermont. The latter was particularly ingenious and 

 pleasing. On the other side was an exliibit of vegetables fur- 

 nished by the Boston Market Gardeners' Association, which 

 was held by competent judges to be the finest exhibit of these 

 products ever shown anywhere. Other articles shown were 

 corn, cranberries and seed potatoes. Ross Bros, of Worcester 



