200 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



cepted Mr. W.'s invitation ; and, when his promises are realized, we shall wait 

 impatiently to see what will be the recompense, in the way of honor or reward 

 conferred on him by Congress ! 



While on the subject of agricultural implements and machinery — all improve- 

 ments in which we shall be glad in any way to illustrate and bring into notice, 

 when aided by their inventors — reference may here be made to the great agricul- 

 tural implement and machine manufactory of Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse & Ma- 

 son, where both iron and wood seem to be as easily wrought upon, and made to 

 assume any desirable form or shape, as if they were but a piece of cypress shin- 

 gle, under the action of a sharp knife, in the hands of a tavern loafer, in a cer- 

 tain latitude that shall be nameless. 



This establishment at Worcester employs about fifty hands, and, being the nu- 

 cleus of their larger one in Boston, may be considered the largest in this country 

 and must constitute one of the important resources of a town which, in a few 

 years, has quadrupled its population — numbering now about 12,000, and present- 

 ing, from the different points about its environs, various and complete views of it 

 — all wearing an aspect of freshness and cleanliness, as if every dwelling had 

 been finished off, painted and occupied within the past week. 



It would be deemed out of place here to speak of its hospitality and social ad- 

 vantages and enjoyments; but we shall have said multum in parvo, when we 

 note the fact that Worcester is the residence, and, we believe, the native county, 

 of Governor Lincoln and of " Honest John Davis" ! What a compliment to 

 the man whose life and actions win for him such a title ! — or, shall we say, what 

 a commentary on the times — as if it took again a lantern at mid-day to find, as 

 in Athens, one honest tnan I 



We might, if it Avere not out of place, dwell, too, on other institutions besides 

 that of this old Agricultural Society — such as the Catholic College, occupying a 

 most commanding and beautiful site in the vicinity ; and on the Lunatic Asylum, 

 unrivaled, as we suppose in the Union, for spaciousness of accommodation and 

 appropriateness of locality and scenery — wanting only, could that be had, an ex- 

 panse of water prospect in the distance, but as admirable as it is celebrated for 

 the persuasive gentleness and humane philosophy of its management and admin- 

 istration.* On none of such things, however interesting to every considerate mind 

 and to humanity, are we permitted to expatiate. 



For the Fair itself, the day was as fine as ever came from the heavens — a little 

 warm for the season, but tempered with the hazy mellowness of the Indian sum- 

 mer, that made it delightful. As to the number of people in Worcester on the 

 8th of October, these might be computed, if one knew the number of inhabitants 

 in the county ; for surely the county must have been depopulated on this occa- 

 sion. The oldest members of the Society said they had never seen so many in 

 attendance as at this Twcnly-Eighth Catt/c-Shoic ! proving, as we have already 

 said, that when these Yankees do take hold, they mean to keep going ahead. — 

 You don't see them kicking in harness, sometimes snapping the traces, by fit- 

 ful efforts, and then rearing up and falling backward. One may judge how per- 

 fectly all their rules are digested, and how exactly they are carried out, when it 

 is considered that all these men and animals are brought together — every animal 

 thoroughly examined — the claims for premiums carefully inspected — the plowing 

 match and hauling match conducted with the utmost deliberation, by practical 



* We had not then visited the Asylum at Hartford, Connecticut, of which wo may speak, and that, too. 

 In connection with agricultural and rani] life, in an early number. 

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