27 



Best Apple Orchard, Jared Lewis, Great Barrington, $10 00 



And would recommend that the 2d premium be given to Isaac T. Pettis of 



New Marlboro, 8 00 



He had set in the spring of 1873 more than the requisite number of splendid 

 trees of seven different varieties, yet he has been unfortunate in the loss of 

 some during the past dry season by the blight, thus reducing his number one 

 or two below the minimum. No other entry coming strictly under the rules 

 of the society your committee withhold the third premium. 



PEAR ORCHARDS. 



Only two orchards were entered for the examination of your committee, that 

 came under the rules and regulations of the society, both of which were well 

 deserving. These showed that great care had been taken in the selection of 

 good bearing varieties, as well as healthy, thrifty trees, and the clean manner 

 of cultivating the soil, and mulching with light fertilizers. All insure a rich 

 reward in fruit of the choicest kind to the deserving competitors. We award 

 as follows : 



Best Pear Orchard, Elisha Collins, Great Barrington, $10 00 



2d do., Harvey Roys, Sheffield, 8 00 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Walter W. Hollenbeck, ) 



Zacheus Cande, > Committee. 



T. J. Williams, ) 



PREMIUMS FOR PLANTING ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



A resident of Great Barrington desiring that the town should be further 

 beautified, and believing that the cultivation of forest and ornamental trees 

 increases the value as well as the beauty of the country, offers $200 in premi- 

 ums, viz: One of $100, one of $60, and one of $40, to persons competing 

 therefor in the above work on the following terms : The trees are to be set 

 out in the autumn of 1874 or the spring of 1875, within the distance of five 

 miles of the iron bridge in said town, and the forest variety must consist either 

 of the elm, white ash, rock-maple, white-oak or walnut, preference being given 

 to trees of the above kinds in the order in which they are named. The selec- 

 tion of ornamental trees is left to the choice of each competitor. One-eighth 

 of the trees may be set out on competitor's land for the purpose of ornamenta- 

 tion, the rest in the public highways within the limits aforesaid. No tree to be 

 less than 9 feet high, and those in the highway to be set at least 50 feet apart. 

 Each competitor is to give notice in the month of August, 1875, to the secre- 

 tary of the Housatonic agricultural society that he is a competitor for the above 

 premiums. In the month of September following, the trees to be viewed by a 

 committee of three men, one from each of the towns of Stockbridge, Sheffield 

 and Egremont, to be appointed therefor by the executive committee of the 

 Housatonic agricultural society. No one shall be entitled to receive the first 

 premium ($100) who does not show at least 75 trees; or the second premium 

 ($60) who does not show at least 45 trees ; or the third premium ($40) who 

 does not show at least 30 trees, living and growing at the time of such view. 

 The committee, in awarding the premiums shall consider, among other things, 

 the number, kind, size and symmetry of the trees, and the award shall be final 

 and absolute. The announcement of the names of the successful competitors 

 and the distribution of the premiums sball be made at the time of awarding the 

 premiums by said agricultural society in 1875. 



I have the assurance and guarantee that the above is a bonafide offer, but 

 the person offering the premiums will not be named until the time of paying 

 them. James Bullard, 



President of the Housatonic Agricultural Society. 



