ESSAYS. 



The Committee have had under consideration an Essay on 

 the Importance of Birds to the Success of Farming Operations, 

 and if we had not previously believed the same doctrine, we 

 should be converted on reading this essay. 



The shooting of birds, for taking some of their natural food 

 from trees upon which we have bestowed a little cultivation, 

 of which claim the innocent bird has had no previous notice, 

 is a crime of which the conscience of the writer does not accuse 

 him ; and he takes this opportunity to make a public ac- 

 knowledgment of the sin of once having killed a bird, in the 

 woods, doing no harm to any one, with a stone thrown in mere 

 wantonness. Gladly would he have restored the poor strug- 

 gling bird to life, — that was impossible ; and our only conso- 

 lation is, that the offense has never been repeated ; but the 

 essay speaks for itself. It will save the lives of many of the 

 feathered tribes, and we cheerfully award the author — Wilson 

 Flagg of Cambridge — the premium of ten dollars. 



An elaborate and well written Essay upon the culture of 

 the Cranberry, was presented for the consideration of the 

 Committee, by Nathan Page, Jr., of Danvers, — to the writer 

 of which the Committee have no hesitation in awarding the 

 premium of ten dollars. 



His directions for the culture appear to be minute, discrimi- 

 nating, and sufficient to enable any one to put his directions 

 into practical use. Mr. Page has not told us how far he has 



