APPENDIX. xiii 



season. The spacious hall was well filled with fruit, vegetables, 

 products of the dairy, manufactures, mechanic arts ; also the handi- 

 work of the ladies, both useful and ornamental, all showing the 

 interest that had been taken in the preparation for the show. 



I was surprised to see so good a show of apples, as the crop in 

 Massachusetts was so near a failure. There was a large collection 

 and many very fine plates of this valuable and almost indispensable 

 fruit. Although the crop was light and the quality inferior, I trust 

 fruit-growers will not be discouraged, but persevere ; forgetting the 

 inferior crops, and remembering only the good ones ; for we can ill 

 afford to do without this valuable fruit. Pears were not abundant ; 

 but so far as we could judge by the eye, were of good quality. 

 This variety of fruit is becoming more and more plenty, showing, I 

 think, that people do not believe in the saying, that " He who 

 plants pears does it for his heirs." This fruit, although it cannot 

 take the place of apples, can, with a small amount of care, be grown 

 extensively, and become an important part of fruit culture. 



Cheese was exhibited from Barre and Petersham factories ; also 

 from several private dairies. Butter was also abundant, and of fine 

 quality. I might enumerate many articles, but suffice it to say the 

 show, in this department, was good, doing credit to all those who 

 had striven to make it what it was. I will here mention that the 

 town of Phillipston is deserving of. commendation, as more than 

 half the vegetables were from that place. The hall was well 

 arranged, — the basement for storage and cooking, the second floor 

 for exhibition, and the third for dining-hall and for the speaking. 



I next visited the grounds, a park of 22 acres, well located and 

 convenient for all the purposes to which it is devoted. The collec- 

 tion of stock was good, especially that of oxen. A large number 

 were on exhibition, showing the pride farmers take in showing 

 their oxen, and also their training for work. Of cows and other 

 stock, there was a fair show. 



The second day was devoted to the horse, and many fine animals 

 were brought on to the track, some to show their symmetrical pro- 

 portions, some their rapid movements, and others both these quali- 

 ties combined. The number of people in attendance both days 

 was large, showing that they hail with joy the return of their an- 

 nual fair. A large number of gentlemen and ladies were at the din- 

 ner-tables both days, which added much to the social part of the 

 entertainment. The first day was graced by the presence of our 

 worthy Secretary, with others, who entertained, as well as in- 

 structed, by their speeches. The second day His Excellency 



