62 



PEARS AND GRAPES. 



For the best dishes : 



1st premium to E. T. Miles, Fitchburg, $2 00 



2d " E. Moore, Leominster, 1 00 



3d " Gideon Harris, Westminster, 50 



PLUMS. 



For the best collection three varieties, one j^remium to Ohio Whit- 

 ney, Jr., Ashburnham, $2 00 



For the best plates : • 



1st premium to J. L. Piper, Fitchburg, 1 00 



2d " Jacob Haskell, " 50 



QUINCES. 



For the best dishes or baskets : 



1st premium to J. S. & Gr. S. Houghton, Fitchburg, 1 00 



2d " Augustus Whitman, '* 50 



A gratuity to Jacob Haskell, " .25 



Your Committee also present a gratuity of fifty cents to Jabez Fisher, 

 of Fitchburg, for a box of fine Blackberries. This fruit, being out of 

 season, is not assigned to any Committee, but wishing to encourage 

 such exhibitions, we feel authorized to award the above gratuity. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



DANIEL WIGHT, Chairman. 



PEARS AND GRAPES. 



The department assigned to this Committee is one which concerns a 

 large and increasing number of cultivators, and a correspondingly large 

 and rapidly multiplying body of consumers. The apple, which was 

 formerly looked upon principally as a luxury, has become one of the 

 indispensable comforts, if not indeed almost a necessity, of healthful 

 existence. The pear and the grape have now taken the position that 

 the apple once held as a luxury, and are fast approaching a position 

 among the comforts of life that we can ill afford to be without. 



This change in their relations brings with it a corresponding change 

 in the manner of cultivation. Where formerly an almost bewildering 

 number of varieties were coddled and nursed as pets, and coaxed t<» 



