ii APPENDIX. 



REPORTS OF DELEGATES 



APPOINTED TO VISIT THE 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIOI^S. 



ESSEX. 



According to appointment, I visited the forty-seventh annual exhibi- 

 tion of the Essex County Agricultural Society, held at Haverhill, Sep- 

 tember 24 and 25. The society, one of the oldest and most flourishing 

 in the State, and the only one in Essex County, has no local grounds 

 for its exhibitions, but itinerates about the county from year to year, no 

 doubt to the advantage of the society in many respects, and to the 

 disadvantage, in others. 



The show of cattle, though good, was not quite up to what I 

 expected to see, and hardly did the society credit, as I think. There 

 were a few good oxen on exhibition. A very good herd of eighteen 

 cows, by William B. Carleton, of Haverhill, and other single entries 

 worthy of mention. There was a good number of excellent young 

 horses and colts on exhibition, showing good judgment and care in 

 breeding and rearing. 



The show of agricultural implements was quite large, induced, no 

 doubt, by a special premium of $25 offered by the president of the 

 society. There was, also, a very interesting trial of twelve or fifteen 

 ploughs on the first day of the fair, in which the people manifested a 

 strong desire to find out which was the best plough. 



The ploughing match that came off on the second day, was a grand 

 affair, — by far the best tiling of the kind it was ever my good fortune 

 to witness. There were above twenty teams entered, among which 

 were six or seven entered by boys under nineteen years of age, who 

 competed for special premiums offered by the president of the society. 



Notwithstanding the field of operations was a mile or more from 

 the village, there was a large number of spectators on the ground, and 

 a good degree of interest and even enthusiasm manifested on the part of 

 all concerned. The boys did exceedingly well, and were amply 



