348 BARNSTABLE SOCIETY. 



BARNSTABLE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The annual cattle show and fair of this society were held at 

 Barnstable, October 16th, 1850. 



The weather was pleasant, and the crowd of people in at- 

 tendance gave evidence of an increased interest in the prosper- 

 ity of the society. The show of cattle was larger than that of 

 any previous exhibition, and in quality would compare favor- 

 ably with any former year. The other departments of the ex- 

 hibition were well sustained and highly creditable to the farm- 

 ers of the county. 



The address was delivered by Simeon N. Small, Esq., of 

 Yarmouth. 



Farms. 



The Committee appointed to examine the claims for the pre- 

 miums on farms, began their examinations on the farms of 

 Frederick W. Crocker, of Barnstable, and William Howe, of 

 Dennis, in May, 1850, and continued to visit the same, from 

 time to time, until October. The farm of Mr. Crocker contains 

 about twenty acres of worn out pasture land. In 1847 he 

 cleared the rocks off about four acres. In 1848 he commenced 

 ploughing and manuring ; the first year he took off small 

 crops, the object being to mellow the soil and prepare it for 

 another year's crop. In 1849 the crops were much larger, and 

 the present year, the crops taken off far exceeded the expecta- 

 tion of the committee. Mr. Crocker deserves great credit for 

 rendering a rough and unproductive tract of land a pleasant 

 and profitable farm. 



The farm of Mr. Howe has been owned by him about 

 twenty-eight years, during which time he has made great im- 

 provements. It contains about thirty acres, under high culti- 

 vation. The committee award to Mr. Crocker, the first pre- 

 mium of $20, and to Mr. Howe, the second premium of $12. 



DAVID BURSLEY, Chairman. 



