Reports of Committees. 



the skill which secures a constant succession of seasonable products, and by 

 refilling with late varieties the vacancies left as vegetables mature and are 

 removed, virtually doubles the space at command. 



The second class of gardens is that in which much more is attempted. 

 Luxuries are demanded ; that is to say, vegetables and fruits of the very 

 best quality, in and out of season. All the requisites are furnished regard- 

 less of cost ; abundant space, hot-houses, and hot-beds, choice seeds and 

 plants, and lavish outlay for skilled labor ; these are justly expected to 

 produce large results. 



The third class of gardens is that in which size is a great feature — gardens 

 cultivated for a village market, or the benefit of a large hotel or boarding 

 house. The special characteristics of such gardens are an arrangement 

 planned tor economical cultivation, usually long lines tilled by the horse 

 cultivator ; and with heavily manured land and careful culture, a result of 

 large quantities of thrifty well-grown vegetables, handsome, very satisfac- 

 tory and remunerative. 



Success or excellence should be measured by the obstacles overcome, and the 

 relative proportions of power and effect. The gardener who accomplishes 

 most may not have displayed as much skill as his neighbor if his results 

 have been obtained at a disproportionate cost of time, labor and appliances; 

 but given unlimited aids he may show his art by the beautiful thrift of a 

 row of peas in September, as free from mildew as those he grew in June ; 

 by the massiveness of early and late heads of cauliflower; by celery, crisp, 

 delicate, and piquant, from October till May — while the small garden does 

 equally well in furnishing a few well-blanched bunches, which shall flavor 

 the poultry from Thanksgiving till New Years, and as justly prides itself on 

 good Lima beans for six weeks as the professional wind does upon his varied 

 successions, or his April cucumbers. 



Your Committee found a due regard for these different conditions and 

 endeavors embarrasing with the present arrangement of the premium list. 

 It was with some difficulty, therefore, that we adjudged the claims of the 

 seven garden sentered for competition. But as to a large number of farm- 

 ers' gardens which fell under our notice — gardens unentered, indeed either 

 lor competition, exhibition, or cultivation — there could be but one opinion. 

 Sparingly spread with raw manure ; made late in spring with careless 

 hand ; hopefully planted with uncertain seeds ; left to "the boys" or 

 chance for subsequent care ; there comes long before the season's end, 

 an amazingly thrifty crop of weeds, which bloom and wave, and shed in- 

 numerable seeds, and the smothered and unproductive plants that remain 

 scarcely repay even the slight labor bestowed, It is a pity that an adjunct 

 of the farm of so great sanitary and economic importance should be so 

 generally neglected. We award : 



Fur the best Vegetable Garden, David Leavitt ol Great Barringtoa, $G 00 



2d do., William O. Curtis of Lenox, 5 00 



:;<! do., Elisha Collins of Great BarrinKton, 1 00 



4th do., Dr. H. D. Train of Sheffield, 8 00 



Henry S. Goon ale, j 



John N. Kobbins, ,- Committee. 



E. 1). Humphrey, ) 



