APPENDIX. xxxvii 



undue advantage over bis competitor, does much to render an laonest 

 agricultural horse-trot unpopular, and tends, so far as he can, to 

 degrade manhood below horsehood. 



The entries in the several departments of working cattle, fat 

 cattle, bulls, cows, heifers, etc., — pure breds, grades and natives, — 

 were in large numbers. Many of the specimens were fine, and pre- 

 miums were awarded by the committees as seemed good in their 

 sight. Of thoroughbred stock, A3-rshires were the most numerous, 

 while grades and natives outnumbered all the rest. 



The exhibition in the hall of bread and butter, cheese and hone^^, 

 fruits, vegetables, flowers, greenhouse plants, bouquets, domestic 

 manufactures and specimens of the handiwork of the ladies, was, to 

 use the language of one of their own number, " perfectly splendid." 

 This language will convey a truer idea of the reality than can be 

 formed from any old Saxon at my command. 



The specimens of fruit were good, although the season had not 

 been as propitious for this kind of products as many others. This 

 was not the bearing year for apples, although many specimens were 

 on exhibition that would have done honor to any contributor and 

 any year. The severe winter, the cold spring and the untimely 

 frosts of autumn rendered the grape crop a failure, except in warm 

 soils and sheltered localities, yet Mr. Forrister, of Somerset, showed 

 some superb specimens. 



Pears were displayed in profusion, — pleasant to the eye, tempting 

 to the hand, and doubtless luscious to the taste of those whose duty 

 required them to report on their comparative merits. 



The silver ware from Reed & Barton, the elegant machines from 

 the Mason Machine "Works, the large show of agricultural products, 

 of one hundred and fifty varieties, of Charles Albro, of Taunton, were 

 peculiarly attractive and interesting. 



A grocerj'-store was on exhibition, equipped with every article 

 the school-boy would call for, from a jackknife to a jew's-harp ; the 

 school-girl select, from chewing-gum to a mint-drop ; the farmer 

 want, from a cow-bell to a plug of tobacco ; and the good matron 

 need, from a quarter of tea to a j^east-cake. 



The committee on hay have awarded the premiums on that article 

 to W. F. Woodward, of Taunton, $12, for five tons 800 pounds, 

 grown on one-half acre of land ; to B. D. Snow of Raynham, $8, 

 for ten tons 1,280 pounds, grown on one acre. This was not on 

 exhibition at the fair, but common farmers would call lOf tons to 

 an acre a pretty tall, stout, heavy crop of grass, and shows that 

 manures, in most cases, are spread over much too large a surface. 



The most unique feature of the occasion was the poultry exhibi- 

 tion. The new structure, erected the last year for its accommoda- 



