1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



519 



ing oxen was small. The Durhams were found 

 ■wanting. The Drawing Match had a/a?> com- 

 pany to witness it, and a fair crowd witnessed 

 the Spading Match. No premium was offered 

 for trotting, but a match was gotten up between 

 two well-matched horses, just to fill up the time." 

 There was also "a game of base ball announced 

 in the programme of the day." 



Such are the expressions of the reporters; the 

 reader cannot fail to see that the animus is not 

 in a description of the products of the farm, but 

 that he found larger crouds, more excitement and 

 apparent interest in matters having no connec- 

 tion with the farm. We notice these things, not 

 because we find pleasure in such criticisms, but 

 to call attention more directly to the results of 

 any departure from the true objects of such an 

 association ; and to inquire whether others than 

 the farmer are not gradually taking the control 

 of tkem into their hands. 



Address by John S. Eldridge, Esq., of 

 Canton ; subject : "National Industry the True 

 Source of National Wealth," and is spoken of as 

 a fine production. Mr. Grinnell, of the State 

 Board of Agriculture, happily responded to a 

 sentiment complimentary to the Board. Inclos- 

 ing his congratulatory address, Mr. President 

 Wilder "urged the true interests of agriculture 

 upon the farmers embraced in the Society, and 

 pictured glowing results of continued improve- 

 ments." No man better knows the wants of the 

 farmer, or will do more to supply them, than he. 



THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY SHOW 



was held on the 28th and 29th at Bridgewater. 

 We regret that we were not able to attend it as 

 a delegate from the State Board of Agriculture, 

 as we had been appointed, in consequence of 

 their making a change and bringing their Show 

 on the same day as that in our own county. In 

 jniits and vegetables the show was very good, so 

 was the display of household work. In the Plow- 

 ing Match 14 team were engaged ; there were 

 but 78 head of horned cattle in the pens. But a 

 noble spectacle was presented in the Tovm Teams, 

 numbering 228 pairs of oxen! 



"To please the multitude a foot race was an- 

 nounced at 3 o'clock." 



Charles G. Davis, Esq., was re-elected Presi- 

 dent, and a "grand ball and supper" concluded 

 the exercises of the first day. 



THE ESSEX COUNTY SHOW 



occurred at Danvers, Sept, 29 and 30. The 

 weather was fine, and a large number of people 

 attended. 



Neat cattle. — In this department 179 animals 

 were exhibited, classified as follows : 



Fat cattle, 7 ; pure blooded bulls, 15; mixed 

 blooded bulls, 13 ; pure blooded cows, 9, (princi- 

 pally Alderney;) mixed blooded and native cows, 



35; heifers, 40; calves, 8; working oxen, 40; 

 steers, 12. 



The neat stock comprised a much larger num- 

 ber of pure blooded animals than any previous 

 exhibition of the Essex Society. 



Horses. — There were 90 horses, classified as 

 follows : 



Stallions, 12 ; brood mares with foal by side, 

 21 ; draft horses, 20 ; colts, 37. 



In this department there was a fine represen- 

 tation of blood, prominent for its excellence. 



Sheep. — There were two entries of sheep, num- 

 bering about fifty. South Down and Native. They 

 exhibited no very noticeable points. 



Swine. — This department was unusually rich. 

 More than half a dozen wagons were loaded with 

 pigs of all ages. 



Fowls. — There were twenty-five coops of fowls. 



Agricidtural Implements, &c. — In a large tent 

 near the cattle pens was a display of improved 

 agricultural implements, carriages, &c. Con- 

 trasted with the former was a plow, pitchforks 

 and other implements, evidently a century old. 

 Their bungling manufacture and unwieldy size 

 attracted a good deal of notice. 



The Exhibition at Oranite Hall was very fine. 

 The walls were decorated with pictures, flowers, 

 needle-work, &c., agreeably and tastefully com- 

 bined. The centre of the hall was occupied with 

 several long tables, which were literally covered 

 with the finest specimens of the productions of 

 the orchards of Essex county. Finer apples or 

 pears have not blessed the vision of any one, 

 Essex county herself has never done better. 



Of butter there were twenty-seven entries, or 

 twice the number of any preceding year. Of 

 cheese there were seven entries. All the speci- 

 mens of dairy product were excellent. 



The usual trial of working and draft horses 

 took place. Twenty-seven teams were entered 

 for plowing. Address by Dr. George B. Lor- 



ING. 



A correspondent says, — "this show was pro- 

 nounced by all to be the best ever witnessed in 

 this county. It was full in every department. 

 One gentleman of great discrimination remarked, 

 if there had been a premium for a bad animal^ 

 there would have been none found worthy of the 

 award. The show of fruits and vegetable pro- 

 ducts was superb. One cultivator presented 

 88 varieties of vegetables grown under his own 

 care. But what charmed me most was the intel- 

 lectual treat at the table from Everett, LoRiNG, 

 Poole, and others." 



THE SALISBURY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICUL- 

 TURAL ASSOCIATION 



had a show at Amesbury, on Tuesday, Sept. 28th, 

 for the firjt time. They exhibited 30 cows, 10 



