IQQ SHAPLEIGH AND ACTON SOCIETY. 



SHAPLEIGH AND ACTON SOCIETY. 



By IIorace Bodwell, Secretary. 



Our Eleventh Annual Fair and Exhibition was held on the 

 Acton Fair Grounds, October Hth, 18th and 19th, 1876. Al- 

 though the opening day and the one following were the coldest 

 for the mouth, there was no lack of interest manifested on the 

 part of the members and their families, who were prompt and 

 early upon the grounds with their stock and field crops ; while 

 the ladies proved themselves equal to the task required of them in 

 their department, making the whole thing a live exhibition. Every 

 department was well represented, and the exhibition proved all 

 the officers anticipated. We cannot speak in too much com- 

 mendation of the wives and daughters of the members, who make 

 np a large share of the entries in the hall with their manufactured 

 goods. 



The display of cattle on exhibition was fully up to any former 

 year, although many of the members had disposed of their sur- 

 plus stock. The sheep, swine and live fowl department was well 

 represented, while that of dairy products was fully up to the 

 choicest offered in our markets. The field and garden crops 

 exceeded any former year, fully demonstrating what the soil will 

 do when rightly cared for by the industry of the husbandman. 

 The fruit consisted of the choicest kinds and was shown in large 

 varieties. The third and last day, which is known as the "horse 

 day," being very pleasant, called out a large crowd from the adjoin- 

 ing towns, bringing up our receipts to some eight hundred and 

 fifty dollars. The largest specimens of field and garden crops ever 

 exhibited here were on exhibition. The centennial department 

 was well represented with articles bearing upon them good and 

 authentic history of antiquity. 



The hay crop was good to fair, and well secured in July ; grain 

 crops below an average, damaged by the drouth in July ; potatoes 

 of good quality, but in many fields a light yield was obtained ; the 

 potato beetle made its appearance on the writer's Early Rose ; 

 fruit in abundance, the largest yield of apples for many years. 

 Our crops in the aggregate are quite if not fully up to former 

 years, and in many instances, in fact, showing a larger yield per 

 acre. 



