MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 129 



MIDDLESEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The annual cattle show, ploughing match, exhibition of 

 fruits and manufactures, and trial of working oxen, were held 

 by this society at Concord, on Wednesday, the 3d day of 

 October last. The weather had been cold and stormy for two 

 or three preceding days, which prevented the exhibition of 

 many animals, that would otherwise have been presented from 

 the remote parts of the county. The show was, however, re- 

 spectable as to numbers, and some of the animals were of supe- 

 rior excellence. Owing to the destruction of the court house 

 by fire, the society was deprived of its customary accommoda- 

 tion for the display of fruits and household manufactures. Yet 

 the exhibition was gratifying to the visiters, both producers 

 and amateurs, and was much larger than had been anticipated. 



The address was delivered by the Hon. Lilly Eaton, of 

 South Reading. 



On Farms, »fcc. 



The committee appointed to examine the claims for the soci- 

 ety's premiums on farms, reclaimed meadows, fruit and forest 

 trees, and cranberries, submit the following report : — 



The premiums for the best cultivated farms were claimed 

 by ten individuals. Tiiere were nine applicants for the pre- 

 miums on reclaimed hog and peat meadows, and twelve for the 

 premiums on fruit trees. 



Farms. — The committee began their examinations on the 

 farm of John fl. Bent, of Concord. Mr. Bent purchased his 

 farm in Decpinber, 1847. It contains about thirty acres. It 

 had been let out for a pasture thirty years previous to his pur- 

 chase, for about thirty dollars a year, and was nearly all cov- 

 vered with brush, except two acres around the buildings. In 

 the spring of 1848, he cleared and ploughed about ten acres. 

 17 



