158 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



making of good bread, is, as it should be, one of the most 

 important items in the list of qualifications necessary to make 

 a model housewife. 



In the ladies' department there was the usual amount of 

 needlework and fancy articles — the time having passed when 

 to expect those more useful and substantial articles of house- 

 hold manufacture. In this department the interest is dimin- 

 ishing in the most of our societies. And why should it not ? 

 Some fifty cent premiums, and but few of them, and many 

 beautiful articles not noticed, is all the encouragement they 

 receive. Have we yet to learn that these annual festivals, if 

 the ladies are interested, will be nobly sustained — and to secure 

 their presence and cooperation, and an attractive display of 

 those rich and tasteful articles of household adornment, should 

 be an object of paramount importance ? 



At one o'clock a procession was formed, preceded by a band 

 of music, and marched to French's Hall, where about eighty 

 persons, including a very few ladies, partook of an excellent 

 dinner served in good style. After the repast, the president, 

 Dr. Bartlett, introduced the Hon. George S. Boutwell, the 

 orator of the occasion. Mr. Boutwell was listened to with 

 great attention, his subject being the duties and necessities of 

 agriculture. Short speeches were made by other gentlemen, 

 after which the reports were read and the premiums 

 announced. 



1 cannot close this report without expressing my gratitude 

 to Dr. Bartlett and family for great kindness and hospitality ; 

 and I shall ever remember my visit to this society with much 

 pleasure. 



Samuel H. Bushnell. 



Sheffield, Nov. 8, 1859. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH. 



It was my privilege, as a member of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, to attend the sixth annual show of the Middlesex 

 South Agricultural Society, held at Framingham on the 20th 

 and 21st days of October. The first day was mostly devoted to 

 gathering stock and materials for the exhibition and making 



