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mens shown, the best by William Miller of Swampscott, who, 

 in reply to inquiries, gave very interesting and valuable ideas, 

 not only in regard to them but also in the re-claiming of old 

 swamp and sod land. If he and his employer are " not 

 members of the County Society" they ought to be, for such men 

 are of value in adding to the stock of information sought after 

 by our society for its own and others' benefit. 



The Cranberries exhibited were well ripened and of good 

 size, Mr. Stiles of Middleton having far the best. 



His experience in Cranberry culture, as given in this report, 

 will be found of benefit, especially to those who, perhaps, are 

 neglecting to utilize the most valuable part of their farm, by 

 not turning an unprofitable swamp into a profitable cranberry 

 plantation. 



Mrs. Jeremiah Fuller, of Middleton, exhibited in six jars, 

 some of the most perfect Gherkins, or Pickled Cucumbers, in 

 form, size and condition, that has ever come under our obser- 

 vation. She states that the seed were planted the last of June ; 

 the cucumbers picked every other day. To prepare them for 

 pickles, scald in salt and water twice, let them stand twenty- 

 four hours each time ; one cup of salt to one hundred pickles, 

 and then scald twice in weak vinegar, after which put them in 

 jars and fill up with strong, scalded vinegar, with a piece of 

 alum the size of a pea, which hardens the pickles. They keep 

 best in sealed jars. 



Alphonso Mason, of North Beverly, one of our Committee 

 and a well-known squash and melon raiser, adds the following 

 advice : " In raising melons as well as other vegetables I select 

 the best and earliest for seed, light sandy land with old barn 

 manure as a compost, two shovelsful in a hill, six feet apart 

 each way ; cover the manure with dirt, dropping six seed in a 

 hill, cover about three-fourths of an inch deep. The first time 

 hoeing, leave four plants in a hill, the second time leave three. 

 Cultivate often and keep clear of weeds. Above all things avoid 

 going into the vines tvhile the deiv is on, either to luok at them or 

 to loork. They begin to ripen about the first of August. The 



