secretary's report. 5 



more room in the Hall, or near it. This year, as usual, the 

 society were compelled to hire two large tents to accommodate 

 the vegetables and fruit. It seems as though a one story addi- 

 tion might be erected very cheaply, and besides saving the ex- 

 pense of the tents, be a much more secure place for leaving 

 articles over night. 



After dinner, on Tuesday, short speeches were made by 

 Mayor Culley, Mr. W. A. Warner, member of the State Board ; 

 and an address by Hon. John E. Russell, secretary of the State 

 Board of Agriculture, well worth listening to, closed the dinner 

 exercises. 



In the afternoon the amusements consisted of a bicycle 

 , race, base ball match, and horse trot ; and had it not been for 

 the frequent showers which interrupted to some extent their 

 progress, would have proved enjoyable attractions. 



Wednesday was exclusively a horse day, and the first thirg 

 in order was the trial of draught horses, single and doable 

 teams, after which came the exhibition of gentlemen's driving, 

 family and matched driving horses. 



After dinner speeches were made by Congressman Nor- 

 cross, Ex-President Jewett, and President Hagar of the West- 

 minster Farmers' Club. 



The two horse trots in the afternoon closed the day's exer- 

 cises. 



The society has held, during the past year, three Farmers' 

 Institutes, one Feb. i8, 1880, at Board of Trade Hall, when 

 Avery P. Slade of Somerset, was present and read a paper on 

 "Twenty years farming experience and the lessons it has taught 

 me ;" decidedly a good thing, and a source of regret that many 

 more farmers were not present. A farmers' supper and dance 

 took place the same night and proved a very enjoyable affair. 

 The second Institute was held at the same place, April 16, 1880, 

 when the special subject for discussion was the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College, after which O. B. Hadwen of Worcester, 

 read a paper on "Cattle Breeding." The third Institute took 

 the form of a field meeting at "■ Pomoland,'' the farm of Dr. 

 Jabez Fisher. The subject discussed was "Fruit Culture," and 



