212 HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



The first of October is too late for us to expect the best 

 specimens and the greatest variety of peaches, still we had be- 

 fore us some very creditable exhibitions of this fruit. 



Aside from the season, we think this fruit the present year 

 has not been as good as in former years. This is undoubtedly 

 owing to the unhealthy state of the trees, and we hesitate not 

 to say that nearly all the trees in this vicinity are thoroughly 

 and permanently diseased, and nothing will save them. Every 

 tree having small wiry shoots coming out upon the trunk and 

 branches is affected with the yellows, and may be set down as 

 beyond the reach of medicine, and ought at once to be exter- 

 minated from the garden. 



By procuring trees from western New York, where this dis- 

 ease has not extended, and starting anew, we can hope for 

 healthy trees and perfect fruit. 



There were 208 entries of fruit — last year. 80. 



RICHARD BLISS, Chairman. 



Directors' Report. 



The cultivated crops of the field, improvement of barren 

 soils, reclaiming bog-meadow, and fruit orchards, are all made 

 subject to the action of the directors. And, in presenting the 

 statements made to us on these subjects, we feel a great degree 

 of pleasure, and even pride ; for they establish beyond a duubt 

 two important facts, the capabilities of our soil and of our 

 cultivators. 



The aggregate of our premium crops of wheat and corn, 

 may undoubtedly be largely exceeded in more favored locali- 

 ties, but we fully believe that we are now only seeing " the 

 beginning of the end" of these important products among our 

 own farmers. The first emotion and feeling of the yankee 

 mind is not to be beat — to establish the facts assumed by us 

 in relation to our soil and our cultivators, we had prepared a 

 table of comparison between our own and the products of the 

 same grain from the largest producing states of the Union, but 

 most fortunately for us, one more competent, and having access 



