SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



The twenty-eighth annual exhibition of this society took 

 place on their grounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 

 28th and 29th, 1880. 



The storm of Monday night and the clouds and threatening 

 weather of Tuesday morning, probably reduced the attendance 

 considei ably, as the number of tickets sold was very much less 

 than was anticipated 



The first in oider was the .plowing match, which took place 

 on the land of Mr. Lawrin Pratt, south of Bemis road. Owing 

 to the uncertain weather, the attendance was very small and the 

 interest manifested not as great as formerly. The noticeable 

 feature of the match was the presence of Cyrus Kilburn, of 

 Lunenburg, over eighty years old, who still retains some of his 

 youthful vigor, and can handle a plow as well, if not better, than 

 some of his younger competitors. 



The trial of working oxen and steers was up to the usual 

 standard, but in the exhibition of town teams we were sorry to 

 find only one entry, that of the City of Fitchburg, consisting of 

 thirteen yoke. If the interest in this class is not awakened, it 

 will be better for the society to add this money to some other 

 department where it is more needed. Why, the town of Ash- 

 burnham had fifty yoke of oxen and steers in the town team at 

 their fair, and we ought to do one-half as well, at least. 



The exhibit of stock this year was not as large as usual, 

 the fine herds of the late Mr. Whitman, of North Leominster, 

 and of John Brooks, of Prmceton, not being on the grounds. 

 Pains were taken pi evious to the exhibition to secure the pres- 

 ence of these herds, but without av^ail. There were present the 



