REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 311 



The whole passed off happily. Much credit is due to the 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, the president of the association and 

 member of this Board, who, in his prompt, urbane and happy- 

 manner, devotes time, money and talents to the noble cause of 

 agriculture. 



W. G. Lewis. 



BRISTOL. 



The undersigned, having been appointed by the Board of 

 Agriculture to attend the cattle show and exhibition of the 

 Bristol County Agricultural Society, would respectfully report : 

 That the thirty-third anniversary of this society was held at 

 Fall River, Wednesday and Thursday, the 1st and 2d of October 

 last. Owing to my connection with the Middlesex Agricultural 

 Society, which held its annual fair on the day previous, I was 

 unable to be present on the first day of the Bristol show. My 

 colleagiie, who represents that society at this Board, was present 

 on that day, and has kindly furnished me with the following 

 sketch, as the results of his observations: "Stock, not so nu- 

 merous as on some former occasions, but there were many good 

 animals, cows, heifers, bulls and a large number of working 

 oxen. A few fine blood animals were exhibited, but most of 

 them were native or grade ; there were more swine and sheep 

 than usual ; of horses, mares and colts a goodly number, many 

 more than usual, were exhibited. Poultry in variety. Plough- 

 ing-match was well contested by about fifteen teams, work well 

 done. Spading-match for second time there, was well contested. 

 Drawing-match was well contested by many well-trained and 

 excellent oxen, and by some very splendid horses." 



The animals which were exhibited on the first day having 

 been removed from the pens, my attention was first directed to 

 the exhibition of fruits, flowers, &c., at "Music Hall." This 

 large hall was tastefully and appropriately fitted up, containing 

 as many tables as could conveniently be arranged, all of which 

 were literally loaded with beautiful specimens of almost every 

 variety of fruit grown in our climate. 



