FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 73 



home-made, A ploughing match was provided for, the 

 first that had occurred in eastern Massachusetts, the 

 total premiums therein being $56. The show con- 

 tinued two days, October 14 and 15, the ploughing 

 match taking place on the second day. 



An assemblage of more than 4000 persons was 

 attracted to Brighton on the first day to behold these 

 promised wonders; for they were such, then. Many 

 came from New Hampshire; and other places, less 

 distant, had representatives and observers on the 

 ground, all of whom on returning home had something 

 to say of the eulogistic character, which was helpful 

 to the society in the direction of "promoting agricul- 

 ture." Any number of agricultural tracts distributed 

 over the same area would doubtless have done far 

 less; not but that such tracts were useful, but the 

 multitude of that period would not ponder and read 

 them. On the first day more than 600 carriages were 

 standing about the streets of Brighton village. Huck- 

 ster's booths and tents, which had sprung up like 

 Jonah's gourd, occupied the various points of vantage, 

 and all things took on a holiday aspect. The animals 

 exhibited occupied sixty pens, which were stretched 

 along the present Washington street, within the Win- 

 ship pasture, from the present Chestnut Hill avenue 

 nearly to Foster street. The Town Hall, which then 

 stood on the south side of Washington street, 350 feet 

 east of Chestnut Hill avenue, was used to exhibit 

 manufactures, agricultural machines and tools, and 

 vegetables. The public exercises took place in the 

 meeting house and the other proceedings were similar 

 to those of the preceding year. A Boston newspaper 

 editor of the period pronounced the exhibition to have 

 been "splendid and gratifying." 



This display of animals, which, by the official and 



