BUTTER. 105 



into competition for a premium ; wo are assured, however, that it was 

 entirely domestic-made, and that no macliine of any kind was em- 

 ployed in its manufacture ; — "raised" with salt only, with a trifle of 

 spice added: 



\ Written hy special reqxiest oftlie Chairman.^ 



Your committee on Bread applied every test 

 To aid in deciding which was good, better, best ; 

 We taxed all our senses — taste we much requir'd, 

 That we might judge right ; — a point the most desired. 



Many nice loaves we found, by maid or matron sent ; 

 Our premiums were few-^we gave to the extent ; 

 And one gratuity, for the best that we could see 

 13y any Miss who sent a loaf (Jfrs. she should be). 



'Twas the opinion of the worthy dames of yore, 



When girls could make 2Judding, they might marry — not before ; 



Good bread be our standard of fitness for a wife ; 



Girls who this art despise should lead a single life ! 



REPORT ON BUTTER. 



UY L. WETIIEKELL. 



The display of butter at the last Hampshire Agricultural Fair was 

 the finest ever seen in the Connecticut valley. There were thirty- 

 eight entries, making an aggregate of four hundred and ten pounds. 

 The committee were fully convinced, immediately after commencing 

 their labor, of the difficult duty they had to perform, viz., to select 

 eight parcels, deemed the best, for which the Society had offered as 

 many different premiums, the highest being four dollars and the low- 

 est, fifty cents. The committee spent nearly half-a-day in tasting, 

 and re-tasting, comparing and re-comparing, in order to do justice, 

 according to their best judgment, to all the competitors who had 

 complied with the rules of the Society. Where all was so nice, it 

 was no easy matter to do justice to all, Avith the limited number of 

 premiums to be awarded. 



Instead of publishing the statements furnished by the competitors 

 and exhibitors, the chairman of the committee decided that it would 

 14 



