REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 323 



Tisbury, 120 for Edgartovvn, and 59 for Chilinark. There were 

 in 1855 but 1-1 acres of cranberries upon this island so well 

 calculated for tlieir culture. 



In comparing the agricultural resources and productions of 

 the Island with former years, we find that their 1,820 head of 

 neat stock from 1845 to 1860 had increased in number, four. 

 Horses increased from 301 to 400 ; swine decreased from 710 

 to 367. Sheep went from 11,077 to 9,276 ; and wool decreased 

 about 20 per cent., which in my opinion is a most unfortunate 

 mistake. Indian corn has increased 25 per cent. ; rye, 16 per 

 cent. ; oats, 11 per cent. Of turnips they get 300 bushels to 

 the acre ; and of carrots, 350 bushels. 



The products of the dairy show a material and praiseworthy 

 increase. In 1845 25,446 pounds of butter and cheese were 

 made, valued at 4,360 dollars. In 1855 there were 32,369 

 pounds, valued at 7,600 dollars, showing not only a large 

 increase of quantity, but a marked improvement in the quality 

 as shown by the price of butter — 25 cents per pound for what 

 was in 1845 19 cents per pound ; and 12| cents for cheese 

 instead of 9 cents. This shows an advance in good farming, 

 especially as in that time the number of cows had not increased 

 in any thing like the same proportion. 



In the village of "West Tisbury, the society has enclosed 

 about two and a half acres of land, on which is a two-story 

 building 70 feet by 50, containing their exhibition hall below, 

 and above, committee rooms and a dining-hall, all ample and 

 convenient. 



Botli days devoted to the exhibition were bright and pleasant, 

 and the people began to gather on Tuesday morning with their 

 products for " the show," and by noon they were arranged. 

 The neat stock first claimed my attention, and I must say they 

 were very much better than I had expected to see, and would 

 have made a creditable appearance in almost any exhibition in 

 the State. There were seven entries of working oxen ; they 

 were not tried, but they seemed " handy," and were well 

 matched. There were six entries of fat cattle, some of them 

 uncommonly good ;. one yoke of oxen would weigh over 4,000 

 pounds ; these were all fatted on grass ; indeed the pastures in 

 Chilmark and the northern side of Tisbury are of a very supe- 

 rior quality, and cattle get very fat there betwixt May and 



