APPENDIX. XV 



The programme named them as follows, with the premium, — the 

 first of $5 ; the second of $3 ; the third of $1, making an out- 

 la}^ by the societ}', when competed for, of $108 : — Putting heavy 

 stone ; running long jump ; throwing heaA-y hammer ; half-mile race ; 

 tossing caber ; hurdle-race ; throwing light hammer ; standing high 

 leap ; hop-step and jump ; three-legged race ; vaulting with pole ; 

 sack race. 



There was introduced also the Scottish broad-sword dance, show- 

 ing marvellous grace and lightness of movement, while the ear was 

 engaged with tones of the ancient bagpipe, and the eye when taken 

 from the dance rested upon the Highland musician in full national 

 costume. 



There was but little in all this to remind of the circus, and there 

 were displa3'ed accomplishments of muscle, of endurance, of move- 

 ment, such as find place in a farmer's exercises, and adorn and enno- 

 ble the human being. If some may not go to this length of expres- 

 sion, and deem it extravagant, all will agree that to be able to throw 

 a twentj'-two pound weight sixtj'-seven and one-half feet, vaulting 

 with a pole seven feet eight inches, and that repeatedly, with other 

 exercises such as onl}- great muscle and heroic spirit permit, show 

 useful powers. Let the most of us attempt these performances and 

 we blush for the little we can do. 



The exhibition in the hall told of the varied fruits, which our soil, 

 when rightly treated, is capable of producing. The Agricultural 

 College furnished the largest contribution. It displa3'ed noticeably 

 a half dozen varieties of beets which have been aual3'zed at the col- 

 lege for the sugar which they severally' contain, some fruit, and 

 most magnificent plants. But there was nothing in this corporate 

 contribution to abash the lone cultivator, who displa^-ed in many 

 instances articles quite the equal of the college, with its store of 

 learned minds. I cannot name them all, but such was T. G. Hunt- 

 ington, of Hadlej-, who entered a collection of vegetables — specimens 

 not over-large but sound, fair, and of even quality, and of grapes 

 six plates. Mrs. Graves, of Sunderland, showed a basket of various 

 kinds of fruit, each specimen of which was free from blemish, and 

 noticeabl}' were five plates of peaches raised by T. B. Page, of Am- 

 herst. Horticulture has much to teach, and among its lessons none 

 is more important than this, — that the perfection of vegetables and 

 fruits is rather to be found in excellence of flavor, soundness, free- 

 dom from blemish and uniformit}^ than in great size or oddit}- of 

 form. There was no " Club of Hercules " at this fair, and I hope 

 none to award premium to monstrosities. If the fruit was not of 

 the highest quality, and does not equal the collections sometimes 

 shown at the exhibitions of the Middlesex Society and some other 



