MARSHFIELD SOCIETY. xlv 



of this section of the State have always shown a great veneration 

 and love for Webster. 



The plonghing-match and the trial of oxen were the first events 

 of Wednesday morning. These attracted large numbers, and wore 

 decidedly- among the most pleasing features of the day. The large 

 hall upon the gi-ounds of the society, having many attractions, was 

 crowded throughout the day. There were exhibited upon its exten- 

 sive tables ninet}' varieties of well-ripened grapes, mostly of the 

 open-air varieties. But few contributions were made of those 

 grown under glass. The space allotted to apples and pears was 

 filled with the excellent varieties usually grown here. Much inter- 

 est is shown in the culture of fruit in Pl^Tnouth County, and sev- 

 eral beautiful collections were on exhibition. 



A commendable interest was manifested by the farmers' wives 

 and daughters in exhibiting excellent varieties of brown and white 

 bread ; and about a dozen samples of plain and sage cheese were 

 shown, and some fifteen lots of the best quality of butter. I 

 will refer here to the rich golden butter of the famous "Jersey 

 Belle," exhibited by Mr. C. O. EUms of Scituate, which the 

 owner took coromendable pride in showing. The cream from the 

 milkings of this cow, Sept. 29 and 30, made three pounds, fourteen 

 ounces and a half. The cream in a jar of the miUc stood an inch 

 in thickness. 



The floral designs were beautiful. A large portion of one of 

 the tables was set apart for this purpose ; and that which attracted 

 the greatest attention was the Old Oaken Bucket, by Mr. Alfred 

 Phillips. It was a floral representation of Woodworth's poem, so 

 dear to the heart of every rural dweller, and was highly appre- 

 ciated. 



The department of manufactured articles was largely repre- 

 sented, and showed that the ladies of this section of the State were 

 not to be easil}' outdone. The fancy articles comprised a long list. 

 Among the noticeable articles of floor-coverings was a rug made 

 by Sarah B. Besse, a lady of thirty years of age, and several 

 pieces of patchwork by Mrs. Alfred Sampson of Duxbury, thirty- 

 two years of age. 



The farm-products would have done credit to any agricultural 

 society in Massachusetts. Four long tables were covered with the 

 products of the soil. Such a display served to impress one with 

 the comforts and independence which attaches to the pursuits of 

 the farmer. The exhibition of field-corn raised by F. P. Arnold 

 of Pembroke was excellent, — specimens of a yield of one hun- 

 dred and seven bushels to the acre. The land was fertilized with 

 six cords of barnyard-manure to the acre ; home-made phosphate 



