140 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ably, and I think did some good. He said, among other things, 

 ' that a poor bull, receiving the first prize one year, it deceived 

 some persons, and he got considerable stock ; that stock was 

 poor, and much loss was occasioned. A very good bull absent 

 from the park several years had been overlooked.' 



" The person to whom this was addressed, said he must now be 

 excused, but first allow me to ask if it is customary with you for 

 the orator to discuss such matters as these ? For our part we 

 expect him to read an address, and if he says nothing of agri- 

 culture or touches it slightly, all are satisfied. The orator is ex- 

 pected to visit different departments of the fair, and to found 

 his remarks upon whatever the occasion may call to his mind. 

 Sometimes it is one thing, sometimes another. Last year our 

 orator came from a cheese district ; he observed that our 

 cheeses were wanting in flavor, and in fact were poor. So when 

 people gathered in the hall he discoursed upon cheese making, 

 and being familiar with the subject, he made a most excellent 

 impression. There were questions and answers." After this 

 being said, the person addressed said " he must now be going, 

 but hoped the subject might be continued at a future time, as it 

 was of great interest." 



Some societies require exhibitors to make entry of their arti- 

 cles some days in advance of the fair. By this course the offi- 

 cers have opportunity to prepare suitable accommodations for 

 everything, to guarantee satisfaction to every one, and it saves 

 the cost to the society of making preparations for a larger exhi- 

 bition than is justified by the result. The society also have 

 opportunity of making mention in the local press, or otherwise 

 advertising, any entry that maybe of a character to particularly 

 interest the public, and thus confer a favor upon both public 

 and exhibitor, and materially increase their receipts. With some 

 societies it is a practice to exact the deposit of a sum of money 

 with the secretary, from the would-be exhibitor, the same to be 

 refunded when the object is brought into the enclosure. It 

 works as a guarantee that the promise will be fulfilled, and in 

 the event of failure, the funds of the society are swelled to the 

 extent of the deposit. It works well, in our society, with the 

 ploughing match and with track horses. I merely offer the 

 remark that the system admits of considerable extension. 



