WEST PENOBSCOT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Secretary's Report. 



The West Penobscot Agricultural Society held its Annual Exhi- 

 bition and Fair at Dexter, September 29 and 30, 1863. 



This in many respects is superior to any former exhibition ; the 

 weather was fine, and a large gathering of people lost none of its 

 enjoyments. 



The show of oxen and steers was excellent, showing a decided 

 improvement in this department. Cows, heifers and sheep were 

 not so well represented as last year, although some fair specimens 

 were on exhibition. The show of horses, colts, bulls and swine 

 was very good. Most'ol the neat stock were grade Durham, Jer- 

 sey and Devon, the sheep principally grade French Merino, and 

 the swine of pure White Chester, a mixture of Chester, Suffolk, 

 Newburywhite and Tuscarora. A fine pure bred Jersey bull four 

 years old, also several specimens of grade Jersey yearlings and 

 calves, were exhibited by M. E. Rice, Esq., of Stetson. A few fine 

 specimens of fowls were on exhibition — " Bolton Greys" and " Sil- 

 ver Pheasants." 



The remaining part of the Exhibition was held in the Town Hall. 

 This hall, one of the most commodious in the county, was splen- 

 didly decorated with flags, paintings and engravings by the good 

 people of Dexter, making the occasion very pleasant to exhibitors, 

 as well as to the many visitors during the two days. 



The fruit exhibited, consisting of apples, pears and grapes, 

 excelled any former show, the improvement consisting in a greater 

 variety of winter fruit, among which were the Black Oxford and 

 Ribstone Pippin. The Committee remark : — "When the quality 

 of the fruit, and the hardihood of the tree, of these varieties, are 

 understood, we have no doubt they will be introduced by fruit 

 growers generally. The great object to be gained in fruit raising, 

 is not unlike that sought in the culture of grains and vegetables, 



