MIDDLESEX SOUTH. vii 



most of them showed good breeding and good feeding. Several 

 coops of poultr}' on exhibition attracted considerable attention. 



The exhibition of fruits, flowers, and vegetables in the hall was 

 not as large as in former jears ; but there were some as nice pears, 

 peaches, and tomatoes as could be seen anywhere. The baskets 

 of potatoes that were exhibited showed gi'eat growth and superior 

 qualit}' ; while several specimens of seed-corn were very creditable 

 to the owners. 



The ploughing and spading match on the second day was 

 managed in a workmanlike manner by several competitors. 

 The great attraction of the day was the exhibition of trained 

 steers by Walter A. Gaskell of Mendon, sixteen years old; 

 Charles Taft of Uxbridge, eighteen years old; Frank H. Wood, 

 seventeen years old ; and Eugene Batse of Mendon. The steers 

 were hitched to the plough, and showed that the}' could do that 

 kind of work well. They were hitched to an ox-cart, and showed 

 that thej' were perfectly' familiar in handling the cart, both by 

 drawing a load, and backing the cart. Some of the steers spoken 

 of were only one year old. They also performed many things that 

 it would seem impossible for cattle to do, — such as getting on a 

 bench two feet high, one foot wide, and three feet long, and, 

 while standing there, putting their forward feet on an elevation 

 about fifteen inches higher. They were driven to jump through a 

 hoop, and, at the same time, over a pole that was about two feet 

 from the gi-ound. Thej' were taught to walk on their knees, to lie 

 down and permit their driver to turn them over. One steer laid 

 down while the other would jump over him. They were put on a 

 planli in such a way that they would see-saw. Many other tricks 

 were performed by these steers. This exhibition of trained steers 

 attracted the attention of a large number of people who seemed to 

 say they never saw such feats performed by steers before. The 

 exhibition of horses in the several divisions, both for breeding and 

 farm-use, was very creditable to the owners. There were a num- 

 ber of carriage-horses and roadsters, besides many fine young 

 horses, which were worth}' of notice. 



At one o'clock on the second day, the officers and members of 

 the society, with their families, assembled in the dining-hall, where 

 dinner was furnished, which all seemed to enjoy for about half an 

 hour. After dinner. Dr. George B. Loring delivered an interest- 

 ing address, which occupied the time till the hour for the horse- 

 trot, which was contested by a number of competitors for the 

 purses amounting to six hundred doUars. 



The officers of this society are working-men, and have looked after 

 the interest of the society in all its departments. Every thing was 

 in its place ; and the fair has been one of the best they ever had. 



