122 



In viewing the fruit as a member of the committee at the 

 late Fair at Nevvburypoi't, I noticed specimens of four var- 

 ieties of winter apples alluded to ; each variety is supposed 

 to be more than a hundred years old, viz., Roxbury Russet, 

 Green Sweet, Rhode Island Greening and Baldwin apple. 

 All these varieties have stood high among the best varieties 

 of fruit, but are now on the decline. Even the Baldwin, 

 that now stands at the head of the list, is not, as a variety, 

 what it was in its early days. Those specimens spoken of 

 at the Fair were some of them very good. But one good 

 specimen, or one good crop, does not prove the variety 

 profitable to cultivate. 



We would recommend the premium to be continued, but 

 the form somewhat changed. That it be substantially as 

 follows : 



For new variety of winter apple originated in this' 

 County, equal to the Baldwin, $100. Also, a premium of 

 twenty dollars for a variety of like character, originated 

 elsewhere, providing they have been cultivated in this 

 County sufficiently to prove that they are equal to the 

 Baldwin for general production. 



Jos. How. 



Methuen, Nov. 10, 1885. 



REPORT OP COMMITTEE ON TREADWELL FARM. 



The Farm was visited in April by a portion of the com- 

 mittee, and arrangements made with Mr. Thos. W. Pierce's 

 foreman, in charge of the farm, for several experiments, to 

 be conducted during the season, but on account of a change 

 of foreman the new one who came the last part of May 

 was not informed of the plan of experiments, therefore it 

 was dropped. 



The same portion of the committee again visited the 



