APPENDIX. xv 



If our minutes are correct, there were but six contributions of 

 butter and four of cheese, — rather limited for a section of Worcester 

 County. 



There were also on exhibition pianofortes, sewing-machines, 

 stoves and tinware, carriages, gentlemen's furnishing-goods, cloth- 

 ing, boots, etc. 



A very good dinner was provided by the society, after which the 

 usual "feast of reason" was indulged in. The social character of 

 agricultural exhibitions is not the least in importance of the benefits 

 secured by such gatherings. 



After the exercises at the table, there was an exhibition of 

 trotting-horses, and, despite the rain, quite a large company as- 

 sembled at the track. 



In relation to this exercise, the secretary says : " Two years ago, 

 this branch of the exhibition was discontinued, on the ground of 

 reform, and because 'horse-trotting was losing favor among the agri- 

 cultural societies of New England.' As in most reforms, attention 

 was wholly given to effects, while causes were neglected ; the re- 

 former's one idea substituted for human experience and average 

 common sense ; and the result was a depleted treasury, and an 

 increased demand for horse-trots ; while, instead of ' losing favor/ no 

 agricultural society in New England has been without its horse-trot 

 the present season, and still the standard of morals is believed to 

 be as high as ever." 



Perhaps we err in referring to the above statement ; but it is with 

 reference to its general character, and not its local connection, that 

 we would venture criticism. Presuming that the idea of the change 

 in public sentiment which he asserts, may be a pervading opinion of 

 that societ} r or community, to which he has merely given expression 

 in his report, we do not propose to discuss the merits or demerits 

 of horse-trotting generalby, or its effects on the morals of the com- 

 munit3 T , nor the propriety of trotting and betting in connection with 

 our agricultural fairs ; but simply to inquire if it be true that a 

 change has come over the dreams of our agricultural societies in 

 this matter, and if " no societ}' in New England has been without 

 its horse-trot the present season." We will refer to only two author- 

 ities, of many that might be quoted, both of which we deem repre- 

 sentative in their character, and properly reflecting the public senti- 

 ment in relation to the first query. 



The first is in a report of the New England Fair of 1874 (see 

 Massachusetts "Ploughman" of Sept. 19), in which the following 

 occurs : " The races at the fair this year were not, perhaps, as 

 attractive as in } r ears past to those loving a good race, as the 

 premiums offered for trials of speed were small, and consequently 



