210 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the soil was well adapted to that grain, which was of the 

 red-bearded kind. I was happy to hear the exhibitor manifest 

 his intention of sowing four acres on similar soil, in the coming 

 spring. Of fruit there were presented some half-dozen varie- 

 ties of apples, among which I was glad to see a fine specimen 

 of the vineyard russet, an apple of great local celebrity, and 

 which I have not found elsewhere. There were likewise some 

 fine varieties of the pear, and a few samples of Isabella grapes. 



The show of the products of the dairy was very satisfactory. 



On the second day farm animals were exhibited on the 

 grounds of the society. There were about sixty head of neat 

 cattle, including- twenty pairs of working and fat oxen, milch 

 cows and calves, bulls and other store cattle, which were 

 examined with much attention. The fat cattle would average 

 about 2,000 to 2,200 pounds dressed weight, and a number 

 of them were taken at satisfactory prices by a New Bedford 

 butcher. 



There were four competitors in the ploughing match. The 

 work was performed well and in brief time, without any noise 

 or confusion. 



There was a fine display of horses, mares and colts, and I am 

 glad to say the island is improving very much in the breed 

 of that noble animal. Instead of the wind-galled and spav- 

 ined jades that have been imposed on us by unprincipled jock- 

 eys from abroad, we now raise from sound stock a valuable 

 animal suitable for all the sober uses of the farm. 



There were only two pens of sheep, but they were owned by 

 two of our best shepherds, and I know that their flocks aver- 

 aged above three pounds each at an annual expense of scarcely 

 fifty cents per head. 



Of swine there were scarcely half a dozen on exhibition. A 

 fine Suffolk boar, said to be a descendant of the royal pens 

 of Victoria, was much admired, and a sow, although not in 

 high flesh, brought with her a plump progeny of half a score, 

 which speedily found a good market. 



Of the feathered tribes there was an immense gathering — 

 turkeys, geese, wild and tame, ducks, and hens of all shades in 

 color and grade of blood, beautiful to behold. 



At the primitive hour of one, dinner was summoned, when 

 about one hundred persons seated themselves in the upper 



