116 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the hoggish swine, all living for the benefit of man, and finally, 

 man himself, the most wonderful of all, and for whom all the 

 others seem to have been created, subject to his dominion. It 

 is pleasant to know that the people appreciate these things and 

 give their attendance and influence for the promotion of the 

 agricultural interest ; an interest which lies at the foundation 

 of all prosperity, and is essential even to the continuance of life 

 itself. 



I first visited that part of the exhibition which was within 

 doors. I found a display of fruits that for quality is seldom 

 equalled. Very large and perfect specimens of apples and pears 

 in particular, proved that horticultural skill was by no means 

 wanting in Essex County. I was however somewhat disap- 

 pointed in the comparatively small number of dishes of fruit 

 presented. Upon inquiry I learned that premiums were only 

 offered for certain varieties and that all others were excluded. 

 This course has been adopted for the purpose of keeping out a 

 flood of ordinary and inferior varieties which would otherwise 

 crowd the tables. Although this course may result in pro- 

 ducing a more select and acceptable show for the consideration 

 of the amateur, yet it seems to me that to ignore the existence of 

 a class of fruits because they do not reach a certain arbitrary 

 and fallible standard of excellence, is not calculated to bring 

 about the end sought for in the most speedy manner. It is only 

 by directly comparing the good with the bad that the superior 

 qualities of the one and the imperfections of the other are 

 brought out and made manifest to the looker on. In the list of 

 varieties admitted I noticed some important omissions of gen- 

 erally acknowledged superior fruits. Among the cut flowers, 

 a fine collection of dahlias numbering, as was stated to me, 

 upwards of 150 varieties from a single contributor, attracted 

 much attention. 



In the vegetable department the specimens were of superior 

 excellence ; but here again I noticed that the collection as a 

 whole was rather a small one, though not from the same cause 

 as before referred to. There seemed to be no reason, so far as 

 I could learn, why the large number of celebrated vegetable 

 growers of the vicinity should not have contributed more freely. 

 In many of the articles there were but one and two contribu- 

 tors, hardly enough to excite a competition. The mechanical 



