APPE]n)IX. xKii 



which causes distaste on the part of many to tr3ing the speed of 

 horses at agricultural exhibitions. Pool-selling and betting should 

 be discouraged. We all, as farmers, wish to see the strength of the 

 ox and the speed and power of the horse. 



At ten and a half A. M. came the trial of working-steers ; at 

 eleven and a half the exhibition of town-teams. Leominster, the 

 home of the president, led off with seventeen yoke of oxen. It is 

 alwaj's an agi-eeable sight to the farmer to see a good display of 

 working-oxen. 



The show of stock was good, Capt. E. T. Miles leading with a 

 splendid herd of Ayi'shires, and Augustus Whitman, Esq., with a 

 fine herd of Shorthorns, both of which are well known as the herds 

 which took the premiums at the New England Fair, as well as at 

 several others. J. F. Brown had a herd of Jersey's, some of which 

 were very good. The show of stock outside of the herds mentioned 

 was not large, although there were other smaller herds on the 

 grounds, belonging to G. L. Rice, L. Nichols and others. 



There was a large show of swine. The fat pig, weighing 864 

 pounds, was exhibited by C. C. Boyden, of Leominster. 



The poultr}^ department was well supplied with some fine speci- 

 mens of fowls. 



The display of agi-icultural implements was rather meagre. 



At twelve o'clock dinner was served in a large tent in front of the 

 building. This was an interesting feature in the exercises of the day. 

 Dinner being served, the president, J. H. Lockey, Esq., introduced 

 the Rev. C. W. Emerson, the orator of the day, who delivered a very 

 instructive address, upon "The Relation of Agriculture to Man- 

 hood." 



The programme for the afternoon consisted of the trial of work- 

 ing-oxen, steam fire-engines, and a foot-race. The agricultural 

 merits of an exhibition of steam fire-engines I leave for others to 

 describe. 



My engagements were such as prevented me from remaining with 

 the society during the second day of exhibition, which was taken up 

 with a trial of draught and working-horses, and in the afternoon there 

 were trials of gentlemen's di'iving-horses. Between four and five 

 o'clock, the balloon " Aurora," under the supervision of Professor 

 S. A. King, started on its aerial voyage, guided by W. S. King, son 

 of the professor, being his second voyage of this kind. The trip 

 was successful and satisfactory. 



I would here acknowledge my obligations to Hon. J. H. Lockey 



;and lady, and also to E. T. Miles, Esq, 



J. Ladd. 



