BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 351 



3. Mrs. James Meacham, of Williamstovvn, . ^3 00 



4. Mrs. Lydia J. Shepherdson, of Lanesborough, 2 00 



The committee tasted some good vinegar, exhibited by Mr. 

 William M. Murray, of Lenox, contained in a vessel which 

 bore this label: — " A vinegar plant, from which the best of 

 vinegar may be made in four weeks, without the use of cider, 

 with two cups of molasses to one gallon of water." 



Some excellent specimens of maple sugar were ottered by 

 Peter Goodell, Jr., and John F. Powell, of Lanesborough; 

 Porter Smith, of Lenox, Elias Cady, of Dalton, and L. L. 

 Darling, of Pittsfield. The committee recommend that there 

 be awarded to Mr. Goodell, for the best specimen, a gratuity 

 of $2. 



Respectfully submitted, 



R. E. Galpin, Chairman. 



Fruits, etc. 



The committee on fruits respectfully represent, that if the 

 award of premiums was to be an end of the matter, they 

 should think any remarks on the subject of the specimens pre- 

 sented, wholly unnecessary. The heavy, symmetrical apples, 

 with countenances glowing with health and perfectness ; the 

 melting, sensitive pears, which a mere pinch or cut would in- 

 duce to dissolve in delicious tenderness ; the deep-hued, downy 

 plums; peaches, blushing with all the modesty that a "first 

 coming out" would naturally awaken, and grapes, hanging in 

 rich and seductive clusters, have all spoken their own praises, — 

 the praises of their cultivators, and the high praises of Berk- 

 shire soil, and Berkshire sunshine, and of Berkshire rains and 

 dews, which have given to them such beautiful growth and 

 rich maturity. 



They have said to all, in language too impressive to be re- 

 sisted, "let it no longer be a proverb among you, that good 

 fruits, in unbounded variety, cannot be raised all along your hill 

 sides and on your mountain tops, as well as in your sheltered and 

 beautiful valleys ; for, as we teach you to say, such apologies 

 are the result of sheer indifference, gross negligence, or unpar- 



