smith's POINT. SOCIETIES. 291 



Smith's Point. 



This point was formerly the extreme west end of the 

 island of Nantucket; but the sea at various times has 

 made such inroads upon it that it is now an island 

 itself. Tradition says that here the Indians from the 

 Vineyard landed when they paid their Nantucket 

 brethren a visit, calling it Nopque or Noapx (a landing 

 place). It is situated about ten miles west from the 

 town. There is nothing, of course, to attact any one 

 save the sportsman, who may at times find certain wild 

 fowl there. 



Societies. 

 Nantucket Agricultural Society. 



This society has been in existence about twenty-five 

 years, and has done much toward increasing an inter- 

 est in improved methods of farming, and the breeding 

 of stock. It is greatly to be regretted that the inter- 

 est once taken in the society has from some cause 

 greatly diminished of late years. There are, doubt- 

 less, many reasons for this. It is probable that one of 

 the chief causes of lack of interest is, that the annual 

 fairs are held so early in the season. No agricultural 

 fair should be held in any part of New England earlier 

 than October, and on this island the rule applies with 

 double force. Of late years the annual fair of the 

 local society has been held immediately after the close 

 of a long and exciting summer season; and before the 

 townspeople generally have had time to think of a fair, 

 it is upon them. 



Believing that many varieties of trees, both fruit 



