SECRETARY'S REPORT. 379 



WORCESTER SOUTH-EAST. 



Acting ill accordance with a vote of the State Board, the 

 undersigned attended the annual exhibition of the Worcester 

 South-East Agricultural Society, at Milford, on the 14th and 

 loth days of October, 1862. 



Arriving late on the afternoon of the 14th, I had only time 

 to look at the fruit, flowers, vegetables and fancy articles, dis- 

 played at the Town Hall. • Apples were shown in abundance 

 and by a large number of contributors, varying in the number 

 of plates from one to sixly^ which latter were shown by W. 

 Cheney, of Milford. Uriah Bowker, of Hopkinton, presented 

 fifty-two sorts. 



The number is not named for the purpose of encouraging 

 others to branch out in that direction, such a course not being 

 deemed expedient, except for a few who desire to test the 

 different sorts, in order to ascertain the more profitable for 

 cultivation. 



A few varieties, not familiar to the writer, but which appeared 

 well, were inquired after, the merits of which did not entitle 

 them, as could be learned, to especial notice. 



Pears and grapes were less plentiful, but good in quality. 

 Some fine specimens of superior varieties of pears from our 

 associate, Mr. Wilder, attracted attention. There were, also, 

 very nice pears and clusters of grapes, whicli were grown in 

 Milford and vicinity. It is believed to be sufficient to say that 

 the exhibition of fruit compared favorably with others visited 

 by the writer during the season. 



Tlie sliow of vegetables was extensive and varied. Mam- 

 moth squashes and cabbages were arranged in proximity to the 

 finer Marrows, Hubbards and Savoys. Monstrous beets and 

 turnips (a few of which may be tolerated on such occasions) 

 were mixed with finer samples. Implements and tools of good 

 workmanship were shown, and among them, a complete fire 

 engine constructed by Charles Shippy, a lad seventeen years of 

 age. I did not witness the machine in operation, but was 

 credibly informed that it worked or rather " played," splen- 

 didly, having thrown water over some of the taller edifices in 

 tlie village. The wood was wrought and the iron forged by 

 the same hands, by piecemeal, at such hours as the young man 



