up to the usual standard. We particularly missed the great variety usually displayed by Mr. Merrill, who for so many years has been the right hand of the society in this department. As the exhibitors had no standard in common to guide them while selecting their various kinds of vegetables for the Annual Fair, I hardly feel that the quality of the vegetables was open to criticism. There was a large variety on the tables and some fine specimens of the various standard kinds.

It would greatly improve our vegetable exhibiters if the same plan was pursued as has been adopted in the fruit department, that of offering special premiums for each standard vegetable, the number of specimens required of each kind to be stated, and the standard of excellence to be briefly given. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has practised this in part for the past few years, with marked improvement in its annual exhibitions. In its printed programme the Society has confined itself to specifying how many in number or how much in measure of each vegetable was required to compete for the premiums offered; I propose that our ancient society become a pioneer in a still further improvement, and fix a standard of excellence in the several vegetables so far as the characteristics that present themselves to the eye. The experience and good judgment of the vegetable committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has usually assigned premiums to the most deserving of their kind, yet in their exhibitions anomalies have been presented that would be impossible under the more matured system that I propose; such as prominent premiums assigned to overgrown potatoes, overgrown squashes, to Hubbard squashes that were but little more than half matured, the color being of a deeper green when in that stage; one year awarding premiums to the largest, coarsest onions— the next, to the ripest. I fully believe that our Society would promote the best interests of the community, and add much to the educating value of its exhibitions, if it would define in general terms what a premium onion, potato, squash, or other vegetable, must be.

There can be no good vegetables without good seed; and the more hands seed passes through before reaching the end of its journey-the seed drill of the farmer, the greater the chances are of its being too old, impure, or wrongly named. I hold, therefore, that the Essex Agricultural Society has done a wise thing in directing its attention of late years to the matter, and offering special premiums for seed grown within the limits of the county. It is very difficult for the farmer who has had the misfortune to handle worthless seed, to fix the responsibility on any one; it has passed through several hands, and "he told me so," is the catch phrase of the entire series; but let the seed be grown in his own neighborhood and the direct responsibility is a powerful stimulus to the utmost honesty and highest care on the part of the grower, while it proportionally increases the confidence and profits of the planter. There are three positions taken by prominent societies in New England in respect to the exhibition of vegetable seed: the Massachusetts Horticultural Society not only does not offer any premiums for vegetable seed, but goes farther than this, and positively refuses to have any exhibited on its tables. As several of the prominent men who are active members of that society are seed dealers this action appears anomalous; but a knowledge of the fact that under the by-laws of that society the exhibitor must have grown his own seed, naturally tones down all surprise. The New England Society offers premiums simply for garden seed, without any condition that it shall have been grown in or out of New England, or that the exhibiter shall have raised a grain of it. The obvious effect of such a course is simply to encourage the production of seed as a commercial article. Our own Society in offering premiums for a home grown product, encourages a very important branch of agriculture in our midst, annihilates the vast intervals that usually exist between the producer and the planter, and keeps a wholesome responsibility within easy access of the purchaser. For the Committee-James J. H. Gregory.

COUNTERPANES, CARPETINGS AND RUGS.

The Committee on Counterpanes, Carpetings and Rugs, would respectfully report:

There were no Carpetings offered. For Rugs and Counterpanes the following gratuities were awarded, viz :

To Mrs. Frederick Knight, for a rich silk Quilt, $2.
To Mrs. N. F. Mussey, for two silk Quilts, $1.
To Sarah Donnels, for white Quilt, 50 cents.

To Hannah B. Griffith, four years old, 50 cents.

To Mary E. Pulsifer, for Quilt, calico, 4290 pieces, 50 cents.
To Mary P. Merrill, woolen Quilt, 1572 squares, $1.
To Emma Josephine Hill, 9 years old, for Quilt, 50 cents.
To Mrs. Charles Ireland, for white knit Quilt, $1. *

To Mary A. Cilley, for two braided Mats, $2.
To Mrs. George Stover, for braided Mat, $1.
To A. E. Clement, for one Rug, 50 cents.
To P. Jewett, 70 years old, for Mat, 50 cents.
To Mrs. Albert Delano, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. Joseph Merrill, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Ellen M. Sawyer, for Rug, $1.
To Sarah L. Cumming, for Rug, $1.
To Mrs. Allen Brooks, for two Rugs, $1.
To Eliza A. Greenleaf, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. L. Crane, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. John T. Page, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. L. M. Hodges, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. H. M, Friend, for Rug, 50 cents.
To Mrs. E. F. Emery, for Rug, $1.

To Mrs. Parker Tilton, for Mat, $1.

To Mrs. Sarah A. W. Dodge, for two braided Mats, $1.

To Rachel Emerson, for Mat, 50 cents.

To Mrs. Charles Ireland, for two Rugs, $1.

To Mrs. Caroline C. Wigglesworth, for Rug, $1.
To Miss Frances Safford, for Rug, 50 cents.

To A. A. Jackman, for Rug, 50 cents.

To Mrs. Mary Titcomb, 81 years old, for two Rugs, $1. Committee-E. S. Sweetser, Richard Plumer, B. E. Fifield.

ARTICLES MANUFACTURED FROM LEATHER.

The Committee were disappointed in not finding a larger display in this department, and did not feel justified in distributing the amount allotted them. After careful examination we award the following gratuities:

To J. H. Walton, for Light Harness, $5.

To E. P. Dodge & Co., for Ladies', Misses' and Children's Boots, $4.

To N. B. Dodge and Brother, for Ladies', Misses' and Children's Boots, $3.

To Crockett & Lakey, for Belting, $2.

Committee-Henry Hobbs, Farnham Stiles, George French, Aaron Sawyer.

FANCY WORK.

The Committee submit the following awards :GRATUITIES.-Amanda O. Pearson, Newburyport, picture frame, $1; J. A. Allen, Newburyport, flowers, 50 cts.; Anna J. Peabody, pictures, $1.; Charles A. Minerth, insects, $1.50; Karl Minerth, photographs, $2; J. E. Clifford, shell work, $1; Lillie C. French, pictures, $1; Mrs. A. R. Jackman, edging, 75 cents; Miss A. E. Currier, sofa pillow, $1; Miss Tilton, pictures, $1; Mrs. Sarah Colby, knit shawl, 75 cents; Mrs. J. M. Spalding, wax flowers, 75 cents; Mrs. Curtis French, lace work, 75 cents; Robt. Babson, engravings, &c., $3; J. G. Silloway, ottoman covers, $1.50; Mrs. Jacob Johnson, masonic emblems, 75 cents; Mrs. Thomas Cutter, carpet bag, 75 cents; Eliza J. Trask, Peabody, ottoman cushion, $1.50; Mrs. P. H. Lunt, Newburyport, pictures, $2; Miss J. N. Balch, pictures, &c., $1; Lillie French, painting, (strawberries,) $1; Sarah F. Tilton, cross and wreath, (wax,) $2; Miss Kelley, game birds, $1.50; Lizzie Ireland, cushion, premium, $2; and

1

50 cents each to the following persons: Miss E. Spalding, ottoman cover; Nellie C. Clark, slippers, &c.; Anna L. Knapp, tatting; Mary J. Ingraham, pictures; Frank N. French, insects; George Osgood, case of bugs; J. S. Gerrish, baskets; Mrs. R. Jackman, insects; Hattie C. Bartlett, ottoman; Mrs. Mary Merrill, 89 years old, stockings; S. Carrie Nelson, tidy; Mrs. John Burrill, flowers; James Devereaux, picture; Mrs. J. Johnson, Jr., wreath and frame; Mrs. E. Lunt, embroidery; Miss H. Brown, watch case; Augusta Cook, shell frame; Mary C. Currier, cushion; Mary L. Dockham, frame and basket of flowers; M. J. Brookings, tidy; Abbie E. Smith, sea mosses; Mrs. Tristam Rogers, 94 years old, stockings; Nellie A. Pike, cushion; Mrs. R. J. Lamb, blanket; Annie M. Little, husk frame; Carrie R. Lecraw, infant's bibs; E. G. Cheever, shell boxes; Mrs. J. Lunt, cushion; John A. Addie, inlaid work; Lydia H. Ordway, 83 years old, stockings; Anna L. Currier, baby clothing; S. Sawyer, pictures; Annie Rogers, lace collars; E. J. Roof, tidy; Fannie E. Talbot, bead cushion. Committee-H. G. Herrick, Geo. W. Chadwick, Sam'l A. Smith, Richard Tenney.

FARMS.

The Committee on Farms would respectfully report:Notwithstanding the urgent calls of the committees, and the liberal offers of the Society for the last few years, the number of farms entered for premium is by no means increasing. The general business of farming which prevailed until a recent period, and which developed some of the finest specimens of mixed farming in the Commonwealth, is now displaced to a considerable degree, by a special attention to particular crops, or by a tasteful improvement of valuable estates. The pro

duction of garden vegetables for the market, both early and