MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 39 



bitions, of any article or department. In place of a few choice 

 specimens of native fruit, that had developed itself in a more 

 than ordinary degree, here were tables loaded with the best and 

 rarest kinds of apples, pears, plums, peaches, grapes, melons, 

 &c., exceeding in quantity and quality the exhibitions of former 

 years. Perhaps something of this may have been owing to the 

 productiveness of the season, but still more is to be attributed to 

 the exhibitions of the Society, which have demonstrated so con- 

 clusively that it is just as easy to obtain choice varieties and 

 rich and abundant supplies of these articles, as the poor, meagre 

 kinds formerly in use. Thus have been brought together from 

 all parts of the county whatever fruits possess peculiar ex- 

 cellence, and our farmers have learned both where to procure 

 and how to raise such as will afford a present gratification and 

 a future profit. In no one department of agriculture has there 

 been so much improvement as in the cultivation of fruit. Those 

 engaged in it have at length learned that it is by far the easiest 

 and most profitable part of farming ; and having thus learned, 

 they have demonstrated by this exhibition, that nowhere have 

 attention and care produced greater results. 



The drawing match was as usual well attended. At 11 

 o'clock, the Society formed in procession, and, escorted by the 

 Bedford band, proceeded to the Court House, where they listen- 

 ed to an excellent address from Doctor Israel Hildreth, of Dra- 

 cut. After the address, the several committees attended to the 

 duties assigned them, and met the Society again at two o'clock, 

 when all sat down to the annual dinner, and afterwards lis- 

 tened, while discussing the rich and bountiful supply of fruits 

 from the tables of the exhibition, to appropriate sentiments and 

 speeches from many of the members present, and at four o'clock, 

 the premiums were publicly announced. 



Accompanying the above return, is a list of the premiums 

 awarded by the Society, the objects for which they were offered, 

 and the amounts awarded for the same, at the close. The re- 

 ports of the different committees, as returned, are very brief, 

 with the exception of that on farms containing little else than 

 an award of the premiums. By these, it appears that there 

 were eleven milch cows entered for premiums, " all of them of 



