34 Reports of Committees. 



of the farmers more attractive, and whatever tends to make a pleasant 

 home is worthy of encouragement. The Indies who have spent so much 

 time to add to the attractiveness of our exhibition, deserve our thanks, 

 and in behalf of the Housatonic Society, we desire to express our grateful 

 acknowledgments. 



For the encouragement of those whe may think the cultivation of flow- 

 ers requires much time and expense, we desire to say that beds of perpetual 

 bloom can be made without any appreciable labor. It is not necessary 

 that mounds should be erected, or elaborate beds be formed One of the 

 most simple and tasteful modes of floriculture, is to insert the sods in the 

 lawn, here and there, in little circles of three or four feet in diameter, and 

 in one of these plant a few verbenas, in another some petunias, in another 

 some coleus, and in another some portulaca, etc., planting only one kind in 

 a place. A half-dozen such little flower beds will add much charm to a 

 rural home, and furnish bouquets to adorn the centre table for the whole 

 season. A few plants put in the window in the autumn, will cheat winter 

 ,of its gloom., and form a mucleus for the out-door beds of the subsequent 

 summer. Hoping another year to see a still better display, and to have 

 more money at our disposal, we award as follows : — 



For Bouquet, D. S. Draper of Great Barrington, $4 00 



do., Mrs. J. M. Mackie of Great Barrington, 3 00 



do., Mrs. Zacheus Cande of Sheffield, 3 00 



do., Mrs. Silas S. Dewey of Alford, '2 00 



do., Mrs. E. M. Winchcll of Alford, 2 00 



do Mrs. L. J. Wright of Egremont, 2 00 



do., David Leavitt of Great Barrington, 2 00 



do., Mrs. R. Dwight Andrews ot Sheffield. 2 00 



do., Mrs. E. C. Ticknor of Alford, 2 00 



do., Henry T. Bobbins of Great Barrington, 2 00 



For fine display of Boses, Miss M. J. Manning of Stoekbridge, 1 00 



For two Winter Bouquets, Miss M. J. Manning of Stoekbridge, 1 00 



For six small Bouquets,'Miss M. J. Manning of Stoekbridge, 1 00 



For Bouquet, Miss A. L. Pixie v of Great Barrington. 1 00 



do., Miss Ella Thomas of Sheffield, 1 00 



da., Miss Maria Thomas of Sheffield, 1 00 



do., Mrs Henry S. Goodale of Mount Washington, 1 00 



For Winter Bouquet, Miss E. H. Tuttle of Sheffield, 1 00 



For a beautiful Geranium, Charles A. Craig of Great Barrington, 1 00 



For Bouquet, Mrs Richard Clark of Great Barrington, 1 00 



do., George W. Bennett of Great Barrington, 1 00 



Respectfully submitted, 



Alexander Hyde, ) 



Isaac II. Rick, ,- Committee. 



Charles E. Heath, ) 



FRUITS— 1st DIVISION. 



APPLES AND PEARS 56 entries. 



This Committee had a peculiar and an unusually difficult task to perform. 

 The varieties of specimens were distributed through a long range of show 

 eases, some contributors conformed to the rules of the society, but the large 

 majority not. Especially the time of ripening and names of varieties were 

 both omitted, rendering it impossible 10 award premiums in accordance with 

 the printed instructions, also in comprising the entries of the first and 

 second divisions of Fruit upon the books provided, there was great discrep- 

 ancy, but upon consultation, the committee upon the first division unaui- 



