NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



515 



B. Moore, Esq., of Concord, a gentleman who not 

 only knew what ought to be done, but how to get 

 it done in the best way. A large number of entries 

 were made the evening previous to the day of ex- 

 hibition, which greatly facilitated the labors of the 

 next day. 



On the morning of the 29th, there was an elas 

 tic western breeze, and the sun broke full and clear 

 upon the earth, so that there were no misgivings as 

 to what the weather was to be. This promise of 

 clear skies and dry roads brought out a large num- 

 ber of people, who brought with them their best 

 teams, best coats and happiest mood of mind. The 

 collection of stock, of cattle and horses, particular- 

 ly, was not only large, but especially good. Most 

 of the various breeds of neat stock y^ere represen- 

 ted, either pure or in grade, and among these were 

 some excellent milch cows. Pigs, poultry and ped- 

 lers diversified the scene, so that altogether it was 

 animated and interesting. 



The Exhibition Hall presented such an array, of 

 fruits, vegetables, mammoth squashes, paintings, 

 hair work, and domestic manufactures, as we have 

 not seen this season at any other Show. The Hall 

 was convenient, neat and attractive, and the attend- 

 ants courteous and obliging. The Dinner, prepared 

 by Mr. Smith, of Boston, was all that a gourmand 

 could , desire ; it was hot, yet "done to a turn," and 

 with such a variety of dishes as to suit all tastes. 

 The ceremonies at the table were a twenty-five min- 

 utes' address, by the Rev. Charles Babbipge, of 

 Pepperell, and when we say that it was by a gen- 

 tleman, a scholar, and a man of mirth and of sym- 

 pathy with the farmer, it will not be necessary to 

 speak of its particular points. It was received with 

 great satisfaction, and is spokon of by competent 

 judges as an excellent address. Justin Towek, 

 Esq., delegate from the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, His Excellency, Gov. Gardner, Mr. Emer- 

 son, of Concord, and others, spoke eloquently of 

 the position and importance of the farmer, and 

 these were interspersed with flashes of wit and hu- 

 mor that either fell warm from the lip or had been 

 prepared for the occasion. The President presided 

 with dignity and ease, and made his guests and fel- 

 low-citizens feel at home around the "jovial board." 

 They are famous in Old Concord for good dinners, 

 good speeches, and fair ladies at the tables on Cat- 

 tle Show days. 



Some persons of large experience in the Matters, 

 stated in our hearing, "that take it altogether, it 

 ■was the best show they had ever attended." 



We give below the first premiums awarded on 

 the occasion ; not having space for a complete list. 



i?r///s— Best Native : J. Conant, Stowe,$8; Ayr- 

 shire : G. M. Barrett, Concord, $8; Devon : Wm. 

 Buckminster, Framingham, $8; Alderney : W. 

 Spencer, ],owe!l, $8; Durham: J. C. Harwood, 

 Littleton, $8; bull calf, E. M. Giles, Wajland,$6. 



Working Oxen — I/. Hoar, Lincoln, $8 ; D. W. 

 Blood, Pepperell, $8; Bulls broken to joke, to be 

 equally divided between A. G. Sheldon, Wilming- 

 ton, and Elijah Wood, Concord, $8. 



Steers — N. Howe, Marlborough, $7. 



Milch Coivs — Native : O. Farnswortb, Waltham, 

 |10; J. Wellington, Lexington, $8 ; Alderney: $3 

 to A. S. Lewis — no first prize. Durham : J. Gam- 

 mell, Lexington, $8. 



Heifers — Three years old : S. H. Rhodes, Con- 

 cord, $7 ; Yearlings : G. M. Barrett, Concord, lyS 

 Best Calf: Chas. Hubbard, Concord, $5. 



Fat Ca«/e— N. Pratt, Sudbury, $10; Fat Cow 

 E. Robbins, Acton, $6. 



Swine — Boars: C. R. Damon, Wayland, $6 

 Sows: A. G.Sheldon, Wilmington, $6; Sucking 

 Pigs : A. Melvin, Concord, $5 ; Porker : A. Tuttle, 

 $5. 



Dairy— Best three Cows : G. M. Barrett, $12. 



Poultry — Turkeys, (five in number) : A. Melvin, 

 Concord, $3 ; Geese : A. S. Lewis, Framingham, 

 $3; Fowls: C. R. Damon, Wayland, $5. 



Butter — S. Easterbrook, Ashby, $7 ; Cyrus 

 Stowe, Concord, $6. 



Bread — By married women : L. H. Austin, Lin- 

 coln, $4; By girls: M. F, Brown, (11 years old,) 

 Concord, $4. 



Plowing — Double Teams : J. B. Moore, Con- 

 cord, $10; Single: J. F. Damon, Wayland, $10; 

 Horse Teams : J. M. Thomas, Wayland, $10. 



Spading— R. G. Watts, Concord, $5. 



Horses — Stallions : R. B. Thurston, (Romeo) 

 Lowell, $10; Mares: J. B. Moore, Concord, $8. 



Colts — 4 years old : S. H. Rhoades, Concord, $5 ; 

 3 years : M. Miles, do., $5 ; 2 years : G. D. Brown, 

 Littleton, $5 ; yearlings : M. Miles, $5. 



Matched Horses— J. Moulton, Framingham, 

 $10; Family: D. Ellis, Cambridge, $4; Farm: 

 D. Wetherbee. Acton, $5 ; Roadsters : J. A. Har- 

 word, Littleton, $5. 



Vegetables— A. H, Wheeler, of Concord, $6. 



Melons— J. Gordon, of Brighton, $2 ; J. Bar- 

 rett, of Cor.cord, $2. 



Siigiir Cane (five entries) — Best : E. Davis, of 

 Acton, 810. 



Fruits — Apples — 6 varieties, 12 specimens each : 

 W. D. Tuttle, Acton, $8 ; best single di^h: E. H. 

 Warren, Chelmsford, $4 ; Assorted Fruit: A. Cle- 

 men-%Dracut, $3; W. M. Allen, N. Cambridge, (6 

 specismens, 6 varieties), $8; best dish : J. Mason, 

 Cambridge, $5 ; Peaches: L. Holton, Littleton $5; 

 Plums: S. Chandler, Lexington, $3 ; Grapes — na- 

 tive : E. AV. Bull, Concord, $5 ; Foreign : E. W 

 Bull, 'Concord, $5. 



For the New England Farmer. 



CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF FEUIT. 



Mr. Editor : — I have been asked the question 

 a great many times this season, what I thought was 

 the cause of the failure of the crop of fruit, and in- 

 jury to the apple and cherry trees, and Isabella 

 grape vines, &c. I propose to give you my own 

 private opinion, which you may take for what it is 

 worth. 



1. During the last two weeks of July, 1856, there 

 was the most severe drought I ever knew, the mer- 

 cury varying from 95" to 102® in the shade, for 

 nine days in succession, which put a full step to the 

 progress of all vegetation unless on wet land. 



