1§58. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



505 



subsoiling, draining, and an improved, and at the 

 same time more economical, mode of feeding 

 stock. 



It cannot be denied, with any show of reason, 

 that these improvements have been greatly as- 

 sisted by the introduction of our autumnal exhi- 

 bitions, discussions, and associations. While 

 they have excited and encouraged, they have 

 afforded the means of comparison, so that there 

 has been a constant endeavor to imitate, or per- 

 haps to transcend the best results of the most 

 successful. 



We did not, however, sit down to write an 

 essay upon the advantages to be derived from 

 these festivals, and will proceed to give some ac- 

 count of those which have just transpired. They 

 have been numerous, and our account must neces- 

 sarily be brief of each. 



The first that occurred, at Lowell, we gave an 

 account of last week. The next in order was 

 that of 



THE MIDDLESEX SOUTH SOCIETY. 



The exhibition was held at Framingham, and 

 was a successful one in all respects. The Presi- 

 dent of the society is James W. Clark, Esq. 

 Address by Ex-Gov. Washbukn, upon the ''Du- 

 ties of the Farmer" which he very happily set 

 forth and illustrated. He said that in no part of 

 the universe did the farmer stand in a more favored 

 position than in Massachusetts. We had a fickle 

 climate and a hardy soil, yet there was health in 

 our rough winds, and a market awaits the pro- 

 ducts of the farm. In concluding, he said that 

 the character, importance and history of our 

 people depended upou their successful applicar 

 tion of free labor upon sea and land. 



Brief addresses were made at the dinner table 

 by Messrs, Train, Washburx, Brastow, Wil- 

 son, Marvin, of Florida, Knapp, T. Starr 

 King, White, of Lowell, and Sanger, of Dover. 

 The next, on the 22d and 23d, was 



the BRISTOL COUNTY SOCIETY. 

 The attendance was large, and the objects of 

 the exhibition realized. Dr. Nathan Durfee 

 is its presiding officer. There was no regular 

 Address, but at the dinner table remarks were 

 made by Messrs. T. D. Elliot, Charles G. 

 DaVIS, E. H. Brigham, and others. The stock 

 exhibited comprised about 150 head, mostly 

 grade cattle, end a few South Down and Native 

 Sheep. The exhibition was attended with the 

 usual plowing, drawing, &c. 



the WORCESTER NORTH SOCIETY 



held its Show at Fitchburg, on the 24th. The 

 morning was drizzly and cool, but the plowing 

 and drawing, and all things else went on with 

 spirit and regularity. There were 304 head of 

 cattle present, and among them flaany of excel- 



lent quality. There was also a fair show of 

 horses, sheep, swine and poultry, and a fine pair 

 of mules, who plowed and hauled a drag load of 

 stones with decided ability. Dr. Jabez Fisher, 

 of Fitchburg, is the President. No regular ad- 

 dress. At the dinner-table remarks were made 

 by Messrs. Brown, Flint, Brooks, Bailey and 

 Tilden. 



the LEOMINSTER FARMERS' AND MECHANICS* 



association 

 held its Seventh Annual Show at Leominster 

 on the 22d, and as usual, they made a fine dis- 

 play ; had a good display of stock, and over 700 

 dishes of apples among the fruit. Address by 

 Rev. RuFUS P. Stebbins, of Woburn, and a 

 practical and interesting one too. The Leomin- 

 ster people are very energetic, and get up a show 

 of more merit than those of some of the county 

 societies. 



The Horticultural Exhibition of the 



ESSEX institute 



took place at Salem on Wednesday, 22d, and is 

 said to be the best ever given by the Institute. 

 They excel in fruits and flowers. 



THE NEWTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



J. F. C. Hyde, President, had an exhibition on 

 Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 21st and 22d, 

 and made an excellent display of vegetables, 

 fruits and flowers, and works of art. Upwards 

 of 60 became members. It closed with a banquet 

 in the evening. 



THE GROTON FARMERS' CLUB 



held their exhibition on the 24th ; the weather 

 was propitious, the attendance large, and most 

 of the departments of the farm were well repre- 

 sented. Address by Rev. Mr. Baebidge, of Pep- 

 perell. 



Our friends in New Hampshire have also been 

 "mustering." 



THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FAIR 



held its Sixth Annual Exhibition at Exeter, on 

 Wednesday. The display of stock was large ; 

 that of fruits, grains, <orn, &c., not equal to for- 

 mer years, according to the reporters. Address, 

 by Prof. J. G. Hoyt, and as was expected, a 

 capital one — he does nothing in a mediocre way. 

 The town teams were very fine, and so were the 

 girls that rode in the tastefully trimmed wagons 

 that were drawn by the town teams. We are 

 sorry to see that ^'escort duty was performed by 

 tlie Exeter Guards, numbering forty-one guns." 

 Our mission is a peaceful one, we have no need 

 of guns — the town teams, and the healthy girls 

 in the wagons decorated with their own hands, 

 was an escort a thousand times more appropriate 

 and beautiful than as many guns as were lost at 

 the siege of Sevastopol. Let the military reap 



