61 



less Potato, $1, I). G. Todd, KoavIcv ; Celery, M) cents, M. 

 F. Batclielder, Peabody ; box of Herbs, $1, do., do., do. ; 

 string of field Corn, $1 each to M. F. Hill, Newburv, and G. 

 B. Loring, Salem ; box of Cranberries, $1, H. A. Stiles, Mid- 

 dleton ; Nova Scotia Oats, $1, G. B. Loring, Salem; crook- 

 neck Squashes, $1, Albert Titcoml>, Eowley ; Canada crook- 

 neck, oO cents, S. A. Merrill, Danvers ; red drumhead Cab- 

 bage, $1, Albert Titcomb, liowley ; Carter's improved hybriti 

 Turnip, 50 cents, A. B. Fellows, Ipswich ; best collection of 

 Garden Seed, $8, Aaron Low, Essex. 



Your Committee are pleased to be able to report that the 

 display in the vegetable department of the annual exhil^itioii 

 of this season, was in some respects an improvement on that 

 of last year. The new requirements were resj^onded to in sev- 

 eral products, and we trust that as they become more and 

 more known they will recommend themselves to the intelli- 

 gence of the farmers of Essex, and the result will l)c to gather 

 to our annual fairs higher standards of excellence in the vege- 

 table department. This change cannot be brought about im- 

 mediately, but where such good farmers as Alley of ]Marble- 

 head, and Merrill of Danvers, lead, others in time will be sure 

 to follow. I would recommend that hereafter the premiums- 

 for Hul)bard Squashes be limited to those Aveighing from eight 

 to twelve pounds. Our exhibition of this season gave us some 

 fine specimens, with the exceptian that the size of many of 

 them was too great. We all know liovv' destructive to both 

 quality and purity is the tendency to select the largest speci- 

 mens in the scpiash family, for stock seed. With tlic Hub- 

 bard it Avill result in the loss of the shell, a coarseness of fibre, 

 and will ultimately destroy those characteristics which give it 

 the greatest value for table use. We have lost the ancient ex- 

 cellencies of the Marrow, in all probability by this unhealthy 

 course of sacrificing everything most desirable to mere size ; 

 let us fight a good fight for the Hubbard in its best estate, in 

 this its home from which it first Avcnt out to be a hoon to ev- 

 ery table in the land. 



