viii EEPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



oxen were quite remarkable, and a town team of thirty-two yokes, 

 made up from the quarries of Gloucester and Rockport, contained 

 more first-class, well-made, hea^y and thrifty cattle than we have 

 ever seen together before, and fewer poor ones. Among the bulls, 

 cows and horses were man}' meritorious animals — varying mate- 

 rially in size, shape and condition. The collection cf poultry was 

 large and fine. Upon all these classes the committees have made 

 elaborate and excellent reports, manifestl}' endeavoring to perform 

 their dutj' well, and making some valuable suggestions to the own- 

 ers of the animals and to the society which oflTers them its encour- 

 agement. 



Passing from the grounds, where, b}^ the way, we witnessed one 

 of the best contested ploughing-matches, we entered the spacious 

 hall, provided by the town of Gloucester, for the exhibition of fruit, 

 crops, flowers and various articles of domestic manufacture. Here 

 the usual skill of the cultivators and manufacturers of Essex County 

 was manifest. And the displa}^ of fruit was largely enhanced in 

 attractiveness by being arranged in the comely and well-fashioned 

 dishes with which the societ}' has recently provided itself. 



It is sometimes asked. How is it that the Essex Agricultural 

 Societ}', after so many years of existence, in a count}' where manu- 

 facturers are gradually absorbing the active forces of society, and 

 with the liberal system which necessarily attends its migratory 

 habits, should maintain such even and continued prosperity ? That 

 it owes much to the economy', efficienc}^ and good judgment of its 

 officers there can be no doubt. But it also owes much to the uni- 

 versal interest felt in its welfare throughout the count}' — an interest 

 which is largely encouraged by the fact that every section of the 

 count}' is visited by the society with its exhibitions. But turn to 

 the annual report of the society, and the secret of its success is at 

 once made manifest. The marks of labor and diligent thought are 

 there everywhere apparent. The committees devote themselves to 

 their reports ; the competitors are careful in making up their state- 

 ments ; for fifty years the residents of the county have held them- 

 selves in readiness to be called upon for the annual address ; and 

 the work of setting forth the views and practices of those interested 

 in agriculture has been diligently continued. Timothy Pickering 

 and his illustrious cotemporaries set a good example when they 

 founded the society ; we are happy to say that their example is not 



yet forgotten. 



Geo. B. Lorixg. 



