APPENDIX. Iv 



with marked attention. After the singing of a " Farmer's Song," 

 and music b}' the band, interesting speeches were made b}' Gen. 

 Butler, Hon. F. H. Saw3'er, assistant secretar}' of the treasury, 

 Hon. J. B. D. Cogswell, Dr. T. N. Stone and others. 



This Society exercises an important influence in this section 

 of the State. It serves to increase a knowledge of agriculture 

 among a class of people whose pursuits, for the most part, are mar- 

 itime, and it serves also to awaken and stimulate a laudable ambi- 

 tion among the sons and daughters of Cape Cod — as well as its 

 practical farmers — in the culture and management of their farms. 



The Society has active workers, men zealous in the cause of 

 agriculture, and its ability to do good is annually increasing. No- 

 where among the local societies is the award of the State doing 

 more good in aiding and encouraging agriculture than in Barn- 

 stable County. 



S. B. Phinnet. 



MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 



Your delegate to this Societ}' left home on Saturday, in order to 

 be on hand in time for the show on Tuesda}-, October 5. Tuesday 

 came, and brought with it a drizzling rainstorm, which continued 

 through the day, notwithstanding which large numbers of men, 

 women and children assembled at the fair-grounds and hall, bringing 

 in numbers of cattle of all ages, sheep, swine and poultr3\ 



The exhibition inside the hall was a decided success, and the 

 room was filled to repletion with everything calculated to show forth 

 the skill, the industry, the activity, economy and enterprise of the 

 islanders. It seemed as if each one vied with every other one to 

 make the exhibition a success, and it was a success ; the people said 

 it exceeded anything of the kind ever seen on the island. 



The islanders are beginning to awaken to the situation. They 

 have an inheritance which only needs development to come up along- 

 side the other portions of the Commonwealth. 



Cultivation of fruits will soon become their specialty. From the 

 specimens seen in the hall, it is evident that the soil and climate are 

 peculiarly fitted to the production of apples, pears, quinces, peaches, 

 grapes, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries, in fine, all the 

 fruits of this latitude, and, as a market is growing up in the island, 

 your delegate advised more attention to this branch of productive 

 industry. The soil of the island is of very light character, yet a 

 very small amount of fertilization is required to produce these fruits. 

 Should the attention of the people be turned in this direction, there 



