1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



519 



very fine, considering the cold season and the un- 

 timely frosts of May. Mr. Bull, of Concord, 

 made a splendid show of the Concord — though 

 rather excelled in this by Mr. Clement, of Dra- 

 cut — and of the Black Hamburg, Grizzly Fron- 

 tignac and White Nice. It was a little wicked 

 in him to tempt us with such forbidden fruit. 

 We do not feel certain that we shall ever drink 

 his health again, unless he finds the wine. Fine 

 Isabellas were exhibited by George B. Cutter, of 

 Weston, bearing the record that the vines had 

 not been girdled. Good samples of the Concord 

 were also presented by F. A. Wheeler, of Con- 

 cord, and George W. White, of North Cam- 

 bridge. The show of vegetables was large, in- 

 cluding most that are raised in the gardens or 

 on the farms of our people, and they were of ex- 

 cellent quality. 



E. L. Reynolds, Concord, presented a Yankee 

 cotton plant in full vigor, with one of the bolls 

 expanded and the snowy cotton streaming out. 



Some 100 cattle, and 200 horses, were entered, 

 and among them were many of merit. The show 

 of swine was not large, but we think in quality it 

 was the best we have ever seen at any place 

 We ought not to withhold the names of the per^ 

 sons presenting them. H. G. O. Merriam, of 

 Tewkesbury had one estimated to weigh 1000 

 lbs., and several others that were excellent. A. 

 Upton, of Wilmington, Joseph Derby, J. B. 

 Moore and Cyrus Stow, of Concord, Thomas J. 

 Damon, of Wayland, James Pierce, of Lexing- 

 ton, and Col. Wm. Hastings, of Framingham, all 

 presented animals which gave conclusive evi- 

 dence that they are judges of good stock. 



There was a pleasant display of poultry. That 

 of John Brown 2d, of Concord, and the White 

 Shanghais of Charles R. Damon, of Cochituate, 

 attracted much attention. 



For the first time for many years, we believe, 

 the Society did not set down to a regular din- 

 ner ; there was no lack of provent, however, on 

 the ground or at the hotel near by. At 2 o'clock 

 a procession, heralded by music, marched to the 

 Town Hall, where a sound, philosophical and 

 able address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. 

 Stebbins, of Woburn. It lashed the follies of 

 the times, while it abounded with practical sug- 

 gestions that must be of value to every farmer, 

 if he will but ponder upon and adopt them. The 

 address was an hour and a quarter long, yet 

 none could be weary or inattentive under the 

 sparkling thoughts that rolled from the rich, full 

 voice of the speaker. We hope to see it print- 

 ed, and to refer to it again. He was followed by 

 Gov. BouTWELL, Mr. Brown, of Concord, Mr. 

 EsTY, President of the South Middlesex Socie- 

 ty, Gen. Dana, of Charlestown, and others. 

 • I. F. Shepherd, Esq., of Somerville, being 



called on, apologized for spoiling a committee 



book he held in his hand by concocting a little 

 agricultural poem, while the orator was speak- 

 ing ; and to punish him for this breach of pro- 

 priety the President made him read it, and a 

 capital thing it was, glowing with onions and 

 orchards, cabbages and cattle, pigs, poetry and 

 pumpkins, and many a sly hit at the girls about 

 their frisettes and curls, — matters that he ought 

 to know nothing about. But we overlooked his 

 want cf gallantry in consideration of the excel- 

 lence of the poem, and made him more than half 

 promise that we might show the whole of it to 

 the world ! 



The speeches being arrested, reports of com- 

 mittees were read, and then the society went in- 

 to an election of officers for the ensuing year, 

 with the following result : — 



Geokge S. BorxwELL, Groton, President. 

 GnonoE O. Bu.vsxow, Somerville, ( Vice 

 Andkew Weli,i>gton, Lexington, ^Presidents. 

 Joseph Reynolds, Concord, Secretary. 

 George Heywood, Concord, Treasurer. 



Col. Keyes, of Concord, who has been the 

 most earnest and efficient presiding officer for two 

 years, declined a re-election. Though not a far- 

 mer, the attention and thought he has given to 

 the society has greatly promoted its interests, 

 and sustained its ancient and honorable reputa- 

 tion. The Society, grateful for his past endeav- 

 ors, tendered him a cordial vote of thanks. 



In the exhibitions of this Society there is always 

 one thing worthy of imitation by all ; that is, the 

 promptness with which it takes up the several 

 exercises of the day as the moment occurs to 

 which they are assigned, and the celerity with 

 which it goes through them. This enables them 

 to accom,plish all in one day, and prevents those 

 unpleasant delays and confusion which always 

 attend upon procrastination. 



Below we give, as an example, the programme 

 of the day, struck on a little card, and presented 

 to the committees and others, who desired them. 

 It was prepared by the President to prevent mis- 

 takes and prevent inquiry, and was found a most 

 happy expedient. 



Middlesex Agricultural Society. 



CATTLE-SHOW, FAIR AND MARKET DAY. 



Obcer of Arrangements. 



Plowing Match, at 9 o'clock. 



Trial of Working Oxen 10 " 



Cavalcade of Forjes lOJ " 



Exhibition of Fruits, &c U " 



" of Stallioos 11 " 



" or Colt^f llj " 



" of Family ami Matched Horses 12 •' 



" of Farm Horses 12^ " 



" of Roadsters 1 " 



Procession and Address 2 " 



Auction Sale 3 " 



Annual Meeting 4 " 



JOHN S. KEYES, President. 



Concord, Sept. 28, 1859. 



