xxxviii REPOETS OF DELEGATES. 



The exhibition in the hall was as I expected, full and excellent. 

 The specimens had evidently been selected with great care, and 

 arranged with good taste. Some idea of the appearance which the 

 fruit-tables presented may be formed from the fact that there were 

 thirtj'-three entries of apples, filling four hundred plates, twenty- 

 five of pears and twenty-three of grapes. Agricultural products and 

 products of the dair}- occupied extensive table-room. 



In the floral department we were somewhat disappointed, — the 

 limited display-, consisting chiefly of cut-flowers and a few bouquets. 

 There was a good show of bread, pastry and preserves, and fancy 

 articles were too numerous to mention. The display of musical 

 instruments, manufactured articles, agricultural implements and 

 machinery filled up all the available space in the hall and added 

 much to its attractions. 



As before intimated, the cattle-pens were deserted at the close of 

 the first day. We learned, however, that they had been well filled 

 with about two hundred head of neat cattle, making the best show 

 in this department ever made by the society. We learned that the 

 ploughing-match of eight ox-teams and of seven horse-teams was 

 spiritedly contested, and evinced great skill on the part of the 

 ploughmen. We also learned that prominent among the attractions 

 on the track had been a trial of fast-walking oxen, five 3"okes com- 

 peting for the prize, and the winning pair making the half-mile in 

 seven minutes and fifteen seconds. 



This is one of the oldest, and in some respects, one of the best 

 managed societies in the State. Though somewhat in debt, they are 

 not in the least discouraged. They have expended during the last 

 year about three thousand five hundred dollars in the erection of 

 cattle-sheds and an imposing gateway', the latter quite an orna- 

 mental structure, and the former very useful and convenient. 



I was told that the society was dissatisfied with the days which 

 this Board had assigned them for holding their fair. Whatever 

 change, if any, the Board may decide to make in this respect, let us 

 earnestly hope that two such exhibition-da3-s as the 26th and "iTtli 

 of September last, ma}' never again fall to the lot of the Plymouth 

 County farmers. 



A. P. Slade. 



UNION. 



On the 19th and 20th of September the annual Cattle-Show of the 

 Union Agricultural Societ}' was held at Blandford. The morning 

 of the 19th opened with a severe rain-storm. The vsturdy New Eng- 

 land character of the people of this hilly region met it with such 



