34 



increased facilities for displayiDg them has added mtich fo the beanty of the 

 hall, the comfort and enjoyment of the patrons, and reflects much credit on 

 the committee of arrangements. There has been much dissatisfaction ex- 

 pressed in former years by amateur florists in competing with those who em-- 

 ploy skilled laborers in the cultivation of their flowers, and the committee 

 would suggest making separate divisions for such, also an increase in the ap- 

 propriation, as the number of entries increase yearly. All of which is respect-- 

 fully submitted. 



Best Stand of Flowers, Mrs. Z. Cande, Sheffield,. $3 



2d d<^, Mrs. J. M. Mackie, Great Barrington, 2 



3d d", Mrs. E. C. Ticknor, Alford, 2 



4th do., Mrs. H. G. Cbapel, Great Harrington, 1 



5th do., Mrs. E. L. Gorham. Great Barriugtonr 1 



CUT FLOWERS. 



Mrs. Dwight Andrus, Sheffield, 5"' 



Mrs. H. T. Candee, Sheffield, 2 



Mrs. Heury Dreiser, Great Barrington, t 



Mrs. Henry W. Burget, Egremout, t 



Miss Emma Joyner, New Marlboro, V 



Mortimer Strong, Egremont, 1 



Miss Helen Bailey, Great Barrington, 1 



Star of Hansies, Mrs. J. M. Mackie, Gt. Barrington. 1 



Collection Seedliug Verbenas, Mrs. H. S Leavitt, New York, 1 



Collection Named Verbenas, C. F. Beer, Gt. Barrington. I 



Anchor Verbenas, Hopkins Candee, Sheffiela, 1 



Collection Verbenas, Jennie Sheldon, New Marlboro, 1 



Potted Plants, J. M. Mackie, Great Barrington, i 



2d do., C. E. F. Beer, Great Barrington, 2 



3d do., Mrs. Edward Seeley, Great Barrington, 2 



Isaac H. Rice, 



Mrs. W. W. Rice, } Committee. 



Mrs. Loomis Joyner, 



Fruits. 



FIRST DIVISION. 



Whole number of entries, 12. Fall Apples, 9; Variety of Apples, 3. 



A charming sight met the eyes of your committee as they entered on their 

 duties. The comparatively meagre shelves of last year were crowded with a 

 display of fruits, as beautiful as it was bountiful. It is "the bearing year" 

 again, and nine competitors in Fall Apples and three in Variety of Fruits had 

 improved the occasion to exhibit what Nature has been doing during the season 

 in the line of some Berkshire productions. Their quality and quantity kept 

 jour committee on their feet for two busy hours in earnest, but gratified atten- 

 tion thereto. Save one, all the exhibitors had complied with the regulations 

 concerning the number of varieties, except in regard of peaches and plums, 

 whose decline for several years past has rendered such compliance an apparent 

 impossibility. It was cheering, however, to notice the plum again return-, 

 ing to the shelves in somewhat of its former perfection and variety. As re- 

 gards the peach, the reports of some of the more eastern Fairs in our State, 

 which antedate ours, show that, after an almost universal abandonment of its 

 culture for several years, horticulturists are once more attempting it and with 

 marked success ; several varieties having been reported as every way superior 

 to those now imported from the South. We shall rejoice to see the day of the 

 revival of this luscious fruit in our county and hope it is not far distant. 



Considering the prevalence of blight the present year, pears made a very 

 creditable show ; while grapes seem to become larger, finer and more numerous, 

 annually. 



Quinces, requiring peculiar soil, exposure and attention, wore a less satis- 

 factory appearance than any other fruit that came under our inspection. 



One presentation of the Cranberry prompted the wish that, if possible, 



