10 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



At these meetings a great variety of subjects has been dis- 

 cussed, and many able lectures given. Its annual exhibitions 

 have shown that the members understand the importance of 

 maintaining good order and of introducing no features which 

 tend to demoralize the people. Premiums have been award- 

 ed to real merit, and have not been given to single points of 

 excellence. 



The Marshfield Agricultural Society was organized as a 

 county society in 1866. This society has evidently done 

 much to improve the condition of the farmer in that jjortion 

 of the county : its yearly exhibitions bring together a large 

 number of people, and give them an opportunity to renew 

 their acquaintanceship, and to learn the progress each has 

 made in agriculture during the year. 



Brockton has a town society, which holds an annual exhi- 

 bition. 



Hanson has a farmers' club, which has held two exhibi- 

 tions. 



Thus Plymouth County has five societies that are laboring 

 to improve the condition of the farmer ; which is conclusive 

 evidence, that, however largely the people may be engaged in 

 manufactures, they realize the importance of organizing, and 

 keeping in active operation, institutions that will keep them 

 informed of every step of progress that is made in agricul- 

 ture. 



Soon after the landing of the Pilgrims, ship-building was 

 commenced, and rapidly grew to an extensive business : 

 large numbers of vessels were built in different parts of the 

 county. Many of these vessels were used in the mackerel 

 and cod fishery, which in the early part of the present cen- 

 tury had grown to an extensive business. The building and 

 use in the county of so many vessels naturally led to the 

 introduction of manufactures of iron. 



The forging of anchors and the manufacture of other iron- 

 work for vessels were commenced at an early date, and 

 were prosecuted with success for many years, not only fur- 

 nishing what was needed for our own vessels, but shipping 

 large quantities to other portions of the country. 



Previous to the Revolutionary War the manufacture of 

 guns was commenced, and during the war large quantities of 



