REPORTS OF COMMITTKES. 27 



ROOT CROPS AND CAIUiACiKS. 



Your committee on root crops and caljhages would re[jort only 

 one entry, viz. : 



A field of cabbages, by Kphraim (jraham, of Lunenburg; one 

 square rod of which weighed 244 pounds, or nearly twenty tons 

 per acre. 



We award to Mr. Graham the first premium of $2.00. 



Wm. Baker, for the Cotnmiitee. 



GARDENS. 



There were originally three entries for the premiums on kitchen 

 gardens. One of them being withdrawn, two only competed, 

 those of Alvah Crocker of Fitchburg, and f^benezer Bird of Leom- 

 inster. Mr. Crocker having been awarded the second premium in 

 1872, could only obtain the first, subsequently. 



After examination and consultation, we award to 



Alvah Crocker, (Fitchburg,) ist prem., $12 00 



Ebenezer Bird, (Leominster,) 2d prem., 8 00 



We have been led to ask ourselves the question, does the Agri- 

 cultural Society or the Commonwealth obtain a reasonable equiva- 

 lent for the money expended in this particular direction ? The 

 competitor may have the best laid out and best managed garden 

 possible, and receive therefor the highest premium ; but who, in 

 reality, is the gamer thereby ? He of course gains the money 

 award ; but who gets the benefit ? The members of the committee 

 may acquire information or instruction during the time spent in 

 examination ; but this is of no consequence to any except them- 

 selves, unless they can transmit it in some way to the public, by 

 means of a published report or otherwise. 



This is not easy, and in many cases it is impossible to do. If the 

 garden could be exhibited like any other product, where every in- 

 terested person could realize the benefit of whatever was new or 

 valuable in its arrangement or management, then it is evident that 

 there would be an equivalent for the money expended. A-s this 

 cannot be done, we are of the opinion that it is not especially for 

 the interest of the Society to offer premiums for this class of objects. 



