Reports of Committers. ■ 3U 



For best specimens of pears, Samuel Goodrich of Stock bridge, 29 v. 6 00 



2d do., Ralph Little of Sheffield, 10 v. 5 00 



3d do., Walter W. Hollenbcck of Great Barrington, 20 v, 4 00 



4th do., Mrs. F. Curtis of Sheffield, 12 v, 3 00 



5th do., Warren Candce of Sheffield, 11 v, 2 00 



For the best variety of all kinds of fruit, Z. Gande of Sheffield, 10 00 



2d do., Orrin Curtiss of Sheffield, 8 00 



For best single variety of pears, D. F. Goodrich of Stockbridge, 3 00 



2d do., Joseph Wilcox of Sheffield, 2 00 



3d do., Joseph Candee of Sheffield, 1 00 



It is but justice to remark that Air. Charles Spurr of Sheffield would 



have been entitled to another premium for variety of pears, did not a rule 



of the society exclude him from a second award in the same division. 



Your committee also noticed that two or three varieties of apples were 

 entered by some exhibitors as fall, and by others as winter fruit. Such arc 

 the "Hollow Crown" and the "Cheseboro Russet 1 ' — inferior kinds — good 

 only for swelling the number of specimens. They would suggest that, 

 hereafter, all apples that do not retain tlcir soundness and flavor until 

 Christmas, be designated as Fait apples. 



A regulation of the society claims it of the committee on fruits to report 

 the names of the varieties for which the awards are given. Your com 

 mittee regret their inability to comply with this reasonable injunction the 

 present year, for the reasons — that two of them were utterly unable to at- 

 tend longer than the first day ; and that before they had finished their 

 awards, the impatient spectators were let within their precincts, ren- 

 dering it impossible to make a correct catalogue as required. It is thought 

 that this may be obviated hereafter by permitting one or more of the com- 

 mittee, at an earlier hour than their duties commence, to enter and make 

 the requisite inspection and record. 



E. W. 13. Canning, Chairman 



TEACHES, PLUMS, QUINCES, CRAPES, ETC.,— 2d DIVISION. 



Peaches, 6 entries : Plums, 1 entry ; Quinces, 9 entries ; Grapes, 

 entries ; Grapes raised under glass, 2 entries ; Dried Fruit 3 entries ; 

 Canned Fruit, 9 entries ; Cranberries, 3 entries ; Grape Wine, 5 entries ; 

 Native Wine, 20 entries. 



Of the many pleasures of rural life, there is none that appeals more 

 strongly to every man's imagination, than the culture of fruit. The picture 

 of the patriarch resting "under his own vine and tig tree," is one of those 

 sweet old Bible images that nvvev los<> their hold upon the fancy. The 

 man who has planted and cared for some trees of choice fruit, and, at their 

 maturity, plucks and eats the luscious produce, and shares it with a friend, 

 tastes one of the sweetest minor pleasures of life. The good show of fruit 

 at our agricultural fairs, proves that our climate, severe as it is, does not 

 deny us this pleasure. West Sheffield, indeed, has become quite famous 



