APPENDIX. liii 



The isolated position and agricultural disadvantages of Nantucket 

 have not deterred or discouraged the officers and members of the 

 Society in the attempt to further the productive interests of their 

 sandy territory. 



The exhibition this year began with a rainstorm which, however 

 undesirable as an adjunct of a cattle-show, was most welcome, since 

 it had been preceded by a drought of great severit3^ The entire rain- 

 fall from May 8th to September was only 1.84 inches, and the con- 

 sequent injury to crops can be imagined. The early vegetables 

 were largely destroyed, and hay and pasturage a general failure. 

 Notwithstanding this great drawback, the exhibition was certainly a 

 most creditable one. 



The stock shown was less in number than in previous years, the 

 drought having made it necessar}' for a large porportion of the cattle 

 upon the island to be sold, no less than fifteen to twenty per cent, 

 having been disposed of; but, as the wise course was followed of 

 keeping the best, the loss is in quantity and not qualit}'. About 

 150 head were shown, a good part thoroughbred, including some fair 

 Ayrshire and Jerse}^ bulls. 



A display of horses and colts was also made, with one two-3'ear- 

 old weighing 1,030, which is certainl}^ strong testimony for the pos- 

 sibilities of nutrition upon Nantucket. 



Mr. G. C. Gardner entered a fine flock of Southdown sheep ; and 

 swine, poultry, etc., were not lacking. 



The exhibition in the Athenaeum Hall was quite an interesting 

 one, and arranged with much care and taste, the walls being adorned 

 with elaborate mottoes. The show of butter was good, though not 

 large. Fruit appeared in considerable variety ; quinces and melons 

 were especially'" fine ; also the hot-house grapes. 



In art, portraits and sea-coast views were creditably done, in oils 

 and craj-ons ; several sketches, of varying degrees of merit, by 

 young artists ; and some capital wood-carving by J. A. Folger. 

 Some foreign curiosities were shown ; and amid the ladies' work a 

 very large piece of embroidery, a scene on canvass, some five feet 

 square, the work of industrious fingers while on a whaling vo3'age. 



Nantucket (town and county are identical) has declined in popula- 

 tion from 10,000 to 4,000 ; but at present its attraction as a summer 

 resort seems likely to balance the decay of the whaling interests, 

 and send the fortunes of the people up again. Hotels and cottages 

 are going up, a horse-railroad is talked of, and sanguine views are 

 cherished by property-owners. Some quaint fiavor of old-time life 

 still lingers, and long may the unique customs which now exist there 

 be perpetuated. We have too much of flat uniformity in American 

 life, and it is quite refreshing to find a place where the town-crier 



