1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



515 



itors, and becoming as deeply interested as the spa-j 

 ders themselves. There were nine competitors for 

 the prizes, who jicrformed their parts in a hand- 

 some and expeditious manner. 



The Drawing Match, or, rather, the " Trial of 

 Strength and Skill" of working oxen, came next 

 in order, and ten teams of noble oxen were enlisted 

 in the trial. Hundreds of interested spectators 

 gathered round this part of the exliibition, and wit- 

 nessed a remarkable degree of skill in managing 

 loads, as well as of power to move them. 



The exercises at the church took place at half 

 past twelve o'clock. A ju'ocession was formed at 

 the Society's grounds, under the marshalshij) of E. 

 W. FiSKE, Esq., of Waltham, and, escorted by the 

 Boston Brigade Band, proceeded to the Unitarian 

 church to listen to the annual address, which was 

 delivered by the Hon. N. P. Banks, of Waltham. 

 It was attentively listened to by a large audience. 



After the sernces at the church were closed, the 

 ])rocession was re-formed and marched to the Town 

 Hall, where an excellent dinner had been provided 

 by Mr. J. B. Smith, of Boston. 



After the good things u])on the tables had been 

 duly attended to, the President, Samuel Cha:>;d- 

 LER, Esq., of Lexington, arose, and briefly express- 

 ed his gratification at seeing so many friends of the 

 Society jiresent at the annual festival. In the name 

 of the Society he extended a hearty welcome to 

 them. Sentiments and speeches Avere given, s])ark- 

 ling with wit and humor, intermingled -with which 

 were the reports ( f committees and the announce- 

 ment of premiums which had been awarded. Among 

 the guests at the table was the Hon. Seth Sprague, 

 of Duxbury, who came as a Delegate from the 

 State Board of Agriculture. In answer to a senti- 

 ment alluding to the Board, he made excellent 

 practical remarks, giving evidence of his accurate 

 observation of the several departments of the farm, 

 and particularly of the effects of crossing in our 

 neat stock. The whole entertainment at the table 

 was of the most interesting character. 



THE DISPLAY OF FRUIT, ^'EGETABLES, ETC. 



The show of Fruit in the spacious hall of the' 

 Society was ver}' fine, and fully equal to that of any j 

 former year. Three long tables, and part of a 

 fourth, M-ere loaded with some of the finest fruit 

 we have ever seen. The display of apples was es- 

 pecially superb. Finer Porters than some exliibited 

 were never raised, and the same might be said of 

 some other varieties. 



The show of pears, altliough of course not so 

 numerous as the apples, was very fine, and embrac- 

 ed handsome specimens of this delicious fruit. Ofj 

 grapes and peaches the contributions were not nu- 

 merous. 



Of vegetables there was a noble display. AU 

 varieties of garden products were numerously rep- 

 resented bj- superior specimens. This portion of 



the exhibition showed that the good farmers of old 

 Middlesex do not neglect the substantials in their 

 farming. 



Among the articles in this department was a 

 unique and beautiful plant called the " Purple Cape 

 Broccoli," exhibited by Simon Brown, of Concord. 

 The foliage was rich and al)undant, and the outline 

 gi'aceful. 



The fruit was so plentiful that the elegant con- 

 tributions of the ladies was almost crowded from 

 the table. There was a variety of specimens of 

 needlework, handsome tokens of taste and skill, 

 of which the f;\ir contributorsmight well feel proud. 

 Of paintings and crayons there were but few. 



The "bread and butter" department looked 

 nicely, as though a capital lunch might be enjoyed 

 if the injunction " touch not, taste not, handle 

 not," was not vigorously enforced. 



The contributions were arranged mth much taste, 

 and the hall presented a beautiful and gladdening 

 sight. Long tables groaning under the weight of 

 luscious fruit, and a profusion of wholesome vege- 

 tables, proclaimed the " fatness of the land," while 

 draperies of brilHant carpetings suspended fi'om the 

 rafters, and fine specimens of paper hangings hung 

 upon the walls, imparted a gay and lively aspect to 

 the whole. 



The whole interior arrangement of the building 

 was under the direction of John B. Moore, Esq., of 

 Concord, whose familiarity with fruits and skill in 

 arranging them is scarcely surpassed. Under his 

 judicious management every thing was orderly, and 

 made agreeable to all. The Society is under obli- 

 gation to him for liis faithfulness and skill. 



The beautiful carpet-rugs, which ornamented the 

 centre of the room, were from the house of Tenny 

 & Co., Haymarkct Square, Boston, and were an at- 

 tractive feature of the exliibition. 



the catple pens 

 were not so well filled as on previous years, and the 

 stock was not so good as at some former exhibitions. 

 Both native and foreign breeds were well rejn-esen- 

 ted in the bulls, milch cows, and other neat stock. 

 Several pens were filled with fine looking fat cattle. 

 Of horses there was a larger number than we have 

 ever seen on exhibition in the Society's grounds be- 

 fore. 



Swine were not numerous, though there were 

 fine specimens presented, and among them some 

 slate colored pigs of the Essex variety, contributed 

 by Ciis. B. Clark, of Concord. They were l)eauti- 

 ful in form, and are said to be a valuable breed. 



The day throughout was ])leasant, the attentlance 

 large, and the Show a successful one. Middlesex 

 county has held three this month, each of which we 

 have attended, and believe them to be among the 

 best we have ever Aritnessed. In fruits, — with the 

 exception of our neighbors in Essex — we tliink they 

 have not been equalled in the State. 



