87 



entries, but each plate seemed to have assigned it a place de- 

 signed to elude official eyes, a modesty unusual with contrib- 

 utors, if a fault of theirs. 



The most lamentable feature, however, in this unwarrantable 

 distribution of fruits over the tables, was the great length of time 

 thereby required to complete our amplified labors, amounting 

 to " prohibition " on all outside gustatory enjoyments ! And 

 we would take this occasion to express our most sincere regrets 

 to the many hospitable citizens of Haverhill and Bradford, 

 that we were consequently unable to comply with their polite 

 invitations. 



Your Committee were limited to the sum of five dollars, cur 

 rency, to be awarded in premiums on Peaches raised in Essex 

 County for the year of our Lord 1867. Our arithmetic and 

 most profound judgment were brought into requisition to di- 

 vide this appropriation, not equally but according to merit! 



We at once virtually resolved ourselves into a tasting com- 

 mittee of the whole. Perceiving that a son of our venerable 

 member from Salem had a seedling for consideration, we dis- 

 posed of this delicate matter during a temporary absence of our 

 worthy colleague, and necessarily interested party. We can 

 therefore fully exonerate this pioneer in fruit culture from all 

 undue or personal influence in our ultimate decision ! Stern 

 justice and justice only, guided us on the ground of quality, 

 beauty, and years of pains-taking. May this one dollar en- 

 courage Charles to renewed efforts for the public good as well 

 as his private emolument. 



We owe an apology to Messrs. Foster aud Butters for sub- 

 jecting them to the trouble and expense of collecting one dol- 

 lar each, or otherwise disposing of said sums already deposited 

 to their credit in Mechanics' Bank, Salem. But the by-laws 

 of the Society and absolute duty were imperative ! We fur- 

 ther regret that by the same rules we could not award a "less 

 sum than 50 cents " in gratuities to the unfortunate recipients 

 named ! Lucre was needless to compensate or to encourage 

 the cultivators of such fine specimens in addition to the self- 



