STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 51 



A SCALE OF POINTS FOR JUDGING. 

 By D. H. Knowlton. Farmington. 



We are all guilty of more or less irregularities, and we owe it to 

 ourselves to guard against them as fast as we learn of their exist- 

 ence. In this way we may hope to reduce them and improve our 

 condition. In the management of the affairs of our Society we 

 have endeavored to avoid irregularities and have our affairs in a 

 business-like form. With this in view, our records are complete 

 and our treasurer's books are full each year since the Society has 

 been doing business. There was a roll of members, but unfortu- 

 nately in the Farmington conflagration in 1886, this book was 

 overlooked and with many Other valuables was destroytd. Our 

 published transactions and the treasurer's records, however, show 

 in more definite form, just who our members are at any particular 

 time. Our Executive Committee on all matters not otherwise 

 covered by general rules have passed and recorded definite votes. 

 We have recommended that our treasurer open a ledger account in 

 detail with our permanent fund, so that at any time his books may 

 show how this stands, and we understand he is going to do so. 



There have been more or less irregularity in the manner of con- 

 ducting the exhibition. I do not see how we could possibly enforce, 

 what in some societies proves a very important rule, that all entries 

 shall be made in advance of the exhibition. Our exhibition comes 

 so early that no one who cares to make a good display of fruit can 

 tell what he has until the last hour before the fair. But other rules 

 we are enforcing and we think our exhibitors and the public are 

 well pleased with them. We should have a few more rules or else 

 make a general rule that will cover all. In regard to the number 

 of specimens of fruit, there should be a limit in justice to all, and 

 I hope another year we may see this point gained. 



Our State Agricultural Society has found it very much to their 

 advantage to have a scale of points for judging of the merit of 

 the animals on exhibition. The Massachusetts State Board of 

 Agriculture the past year published and sent out for the use of 

 local agricultural societies a scale of points, covering the live stock, 

 vegetables and fruit. Secretary Sessions who was with us at our 

 exhibition this year, said the plan was working well with him. 



