ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 19 



Middlesex South Society. Mr. Bowditch has resisted my 

 appeal, and insists upon thrusting all the honor on this club. 

 ]Mr. Damon, who is now quite sick, and unable to be present, 

 will, no doubt, receive from 3-ou some expression of your 

 remembrance and sympathy. 



It has been the custom at the opening of your country'- 

 meetings to refer to some of the leading features and pro- 

 ductions of the town in w^hich the meeting is held. A small, 

 quiet country town like this, composed mostly of farmers, 

 can have but little to boast of as compared with Worcester 

 or Greenfield. 



Our principal agricultural products are grass, fruit, — most- 

 ly apples and pears, — milk, and pork. We have also, in the 

 outlj'ing villages, a few successful manufacturers of boots 

 and shoes, and one of woollen goods. 



Of apples, we, in common with our neighbors in this 

 section of the State, have this 3-ear had a very abundant 

 j'ield : it is estimated that not less than thirty thousand 

 barrels have been packed and sent to market from this 

 town, besides a great number of car-loads which have been 

 sent away, and manufactured into cider, say forty-five thou- 

 sand bushels. I judge that the amount of money which our 

 farmers and towns-people will receive for their apples this 

 year will be not less than thirty thousand dollars. 



Our most important product is milk : upon that one 

 article our farmers chiefly depend for their income. For 

 some years past, the average number of cans sent to market 

 has been about fifteen hundred daily, yielding in money 

 three hundred and seventy-five dollars. For the last 3'ear, 

 the quantity has been somewhat reduced, owing to the 

 increased demand for butter and cream. 



Pork in its various forms is another important product of 

 the town. I am informed, on pretty good authority, that, at 

 the present time, not less than half a ton of sausages are 

 daily shipped from Deerfoot Farm : they are sent to a great 

 number of towns and cities, reaching as far as Detroit and 

 Chicago. I trust that those of you wdio are without scruple 

 or prejudice against pork may have an early opportunity to 

 test the merits of this famous commodity. 



The cultivation of maize, or Indian-corn, is daily receiving 

 more attention in this part of the State. With special 



