HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 39 



witness the desire manifested to look at the fruit. The exhibi- 

 tion of apples was fine ; it would have done credit to any hor- 

 ticultural association in the country. But the pears, the quinces, 

 tlie grapes, — the esculent roots and vegetables, that might have 

 been brought in abundance by the farmers in the vicinity, — 

 were not there. 



If hundreds and thousands of people are interested to come 

 to these shows, there should be a corresponding care in present- 

 ing something to gratify that interest, and worthy of the occa- 

 sion, by those whose duty it is to make the collection. There 

 seems to be a general impression, in the community, that, at 

 such collections, nothing should be exhibited but rare or mon- 

 strous productions. This is a mistake ; for it is more desirable 

 and far better, that good specimens of good fruit and vegeta- 

 bles that can be found on the premises of every farmer, be col- 

 lected together, than that extraordinary productions should be 

 sought for. Specimens of enormous growth are interesting to 

 show the richness of the soil which we till ; but the specimens 

 thus produced are often comparatively of little value for the 

 table. The farmers in the vicinity should come to these fairs 

 to exhibit their productions, and not to be spectators merely. 

 All have something worth seeing, and if they would bring them 

 together as they bring their fruit, the number of specimens 

 would excite curiosity as well as the variety. A table, with a 

 hundred covered plates of potatoes of the best sorts that are 

 raised in the county, including the Hill's Early, the Kidney, 

 the Carter, the Mercers, the Peach-blow, the Yorkshires, the 

 Merinos, the Cow-horns, the Rohan, the Lady's Finger, the 

 Blues, the Whites, the Yellows, with any new and uncommon 

 varieties, would attract much attention, lead to discussion as to 

 the merits of each sort, and be productive of much good to the 

 cultivator. An exhibition of a table with 50 or 100 specimens 

 of the best winter squashes, including the Marrow, the Butter, 

 the Acorn, the Valparaiso, the various Crooknecks, the Paris, 

 and the Mammoth, would be beautiful in the exhibition, and 

 useful in its influence. 



With a little pains, such a collection might be brought to- 

 gether with great ease at each exhibition. If a farmer has a 



