APPENDIX. xiii 



exhibition of working oxen were worthj' of mnch credit. Tlie men 

 who exhibited in this department, with their well-trained cattle, 

 understood their business, and imparted a useful lesson ; most of 

 them have giA^en similar instructions at nearly all the fairs in Wor- 

 cester Count}'. 



The display in the hall was good, — a large A'ariety of vegetables 

 from the field and garden, good specimens of the different kinds of 

 grains, — and the whole room tastefallj- adorned with the handiwork 

 of the ladies, and plants and flowers. The exhibition for the second 

 day was confined to horses, in all their different classes, and the 

 reading of the reports of committees. It is claimed b}' some that 

 this society' is taking higher moral ground on the subject of horse- 

 racing than many of our societies. No premium is offered where 

 simply speed governs the award. "VVe regretted not being able to be 

 present the second da}', which, with fair weather and a larger attend- 

 ance, is said to have met with a reasonable degree of success. 



The present officers of this society would seem to be doing what 

 they can to bring it up to a respectable rank with the other socie- 

 ties of the State, for which they are to be commended. But we 

 must not close without giving it as our opinion that it is not time 

 for them yet " to rest on their laurels." 



Thomas P. Root. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



The Hampshire Agricultural Society, to which I had the honor 

 of being accredited by the Board, belongs to the smaller class of 

 societies. Of the thirty-one incorporated agricultural societies in 

 the State twenty-seven in 1871 had larger receipts of money and 

 twenty paid out more in premiums and gratuities. It has the good 

 fortune, however, to be less weighted with debt than some, and we 

 ought to acknowledge that the measure of success of an agricultural 

 society cannot be seen in its financial exhibit. Indeed, I think it 

 would not be surprising, should a careful survey of the work of all 

 our societies be had, were it found that some of the smaller, rather 

 than the larger and perhaps more pretentious societies, most merited 

 our support. 



Having its seat in the heart of a beautiful valley, the most fertile 

 in New England, yet with border-lands that through past neglect 

 now demand the most searching thought to devise profitable meth- 

 ods of improvement, the Hampshire Society ought to unite in its 

 behalf the hearty support of the neighboring population. I have 

 yet to learn of the society which does this, and I believe it is due in 



