86 



Field Corn, 1 of Pop Corn, 1 of Marblehead Sweet Corn, 2 of 

 Peppers, 1 of Parsnips, 1 of Rhubarb, and 10 varieties of 

 Strawberry Plants growing in pots. 



The collection awarded the second premium, that of the 

 Danvers Hospital Farm, consisted of 23 varieties, comprising 3 

 of Squashes, 2 of Beets, 2 of Cabbages and one each of Beans, 

 Carrots, Okra, Peppers, Pop-Corn, West India Gherkins, Cu- 

 cumbers, Parsley, Gourds, Potatoes, Rhubarb, Tomatoes, 

 Turnips, Martynias, Melons and Parsnips ; also thirteen addi- 

 tional lots were entered for special premium competition. 



Your committee decided that the twenty-two varieties of 

 Beans, so excellent in quality, raised by E. F. Webster of 

 Haverhill, could not properly be awarded the second premium 

 for Field and Garden Seeds, they being that of one kind of 

 vegetable. Mr. Webster also exhibited five varieties of Pota- 

 toes of merit. For information how vegetables are cultivated 

 in Essex County, your committee would call attention to 

 report of 1879 on that subject. 



We have the same fault to find as other committees have 

 before us, that exhibitors do not conform with the rules of the 

 society as regards number of specimens, or quantity required, 

 size, weight, etc., if they intended they should compete for 

 premiums. If not, exhibitors should enter them " not for 

 premium." Some of the vegetables of the best quality could 

 not be awarded premiums because their exhibitors did not con- 

 form to the rules. 



It is useless for the exhibitor of a bushel of any product to 

 expect the premium offered for a peck; or 13 to 15 of a product 

 when 12, no more and no less, are required ; or expect it for 

 squashes, potatoes and other vegetables of mammoth size, 

 when the premium size as defined by the Society is smaller. 



We would suggest that the same method be adopted in 

 regard to vegetables as has proved so successful with fruit, 

 that of having cards printed and placed upon the tables, desig- 

 nating where each variety is to be placed, and the hall com- 

 mittee should assist the exhibitor in arranging his exhibit in 



