REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 195 



The fat cattle were few but good. One pair from the hospital 

 farm weighed 4,200 pounds, and a pair owned by William H. 

 Gilford, of Westport, weighed 3,900 pounds. Mr. Gifford had 

 a pair of three years old steers that weighed 2,525 pounds. 

 There were a few good milch cows. The working oxen were, 

 in general, well matched, of fair size and in fine condition. 

 The remainder of the neat stock was young and thrifty. 



About thirty horses, of all kinds, were on the ground, and 

 were decidedly the best part of the stock exhibited. There 

 were several breeding mares of very fine appearance, and 

 several colts from four months to four years of age that would 

 grace any agricultural show in the State. 



About twenty sheep were exhibited, chiefly Leicester and 

 South Down grades. They were large and in fine condition. 

 The swine w r ere few in number and not worthy of particular 

 remark. There were several kinds of fowls, whose appearance 

 added to the show. There were several very fine specimens. 



The second day was calm and beautiful, and the people 

 assembled in greater numbers than on the first day. The 

 fruits, vegetables, bread, butter, cheese, <fec, were exhibited in 

 a spacious hall, the walls of which and two large tables were 

 tastefully adorned with the handiwork of the ladies and 

 mechanics. The fruits were inferior as to quality, but well 

 selected as to varieties. The vegetables were about an average 

 of garden produce. 



In the needlework, both useful and ornamental, and. in the 

 bread, butter, cheese, &c, the influence of the Bristol County 

 ladies was strikingly manifested ; for, in the judgment of your 

 delegate, theirs was by far the best part of the exhibition. 



The exhibition of the Bristol Society could not be regarded 

 as a total failure, but by some well qualified to judge, it was 

 deemed quite inferior to that of the last year. In my own 

 humble judgment, it would not compare favorably with any 

 county show I have ever attended. 



The alleged causes of the partial failure were the boisterous- 

 ness of the wind on the first day, an unfortunate choice of 

 ground for the ploughing match, a partial failure of the crops 

 of fruits and vegetables, and especially an existing disagreement 

 among the members about a spot for a permanent location for 

 their exhibitions ; the southern portion of the society wishing 



