FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, 67 



of that period, all stalwart and willing citizens were in- 

 vited to be present on August 25. when, as appears by the 

 society's cash book, the sum of 810 was paid " for liquors 

 for the raising." Within this building, annually, to 1835 

 (including that year, but excepting 1831 and 1834), were 

 displayed those various farm, household and factory pro- 

 ducts, which contribute to make up the typical agricultu- 

 ral exhibition. In front of it each year, on the chief 

 festival day, the members of the society and guests were 

 formed by the society's four marshals, in procession, and 

 moved down the broad avenue to the main street and to 

 the meeting house, keeping step to the martial notes of 

 drums, fifes, clarinets and cymbals. In the meeting house 

 the annual address and other public exercises took place. 

 For some years after the first occupancy of the hall the 

 cattle pens were aligned as in 1816 and 1817 along the 

 roadside, but latterly the southerly slope beyond the crown 

 of the hill, and south of the hall, was set apart for the 

 purpose. There the sight-seeing throngs stood and gazed 

 in pleasant October days upon the assembled herds and 

 flocks, or, becoming weary of that, and of the curiosities 

 arrayed in Agricultural Hall, strolled about the " beautiful 

 and elevated grounds," and viewed the " extensive pros- 

 pect." Agricultural Hall was removed, after the sale of 

 the society's land in 1844, to the easterly corner of Chest- 

 nut Hill avenue and Washington street, where it still 

 stands, substantially unchanged, and is used as a store. 



The exhibition of 1818 comprised a much larger number 

 of animals than either of its predecessors, and was superior 

 also in respect to their average quality. The attendance 

 of spectators was equal or greater. At the society's din- 

 ner 200 persons sat at the table. The lower story of the 

 agricultural building was used for exhibiting farming 

 machinery and implements and mammoth vegetables ; the 

 upper story for manufactured .textiles and other light 

 goods. The successive exhibitions, for many years, pre- 

 sented no important new features, but the festival annu- 



