332 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Alexander Wright, of Lowell, we were informed, 

 was 1,400 pounds. There were also fine specimens 

 of the Ayrshire, Alderney, Durham and Devon 

 cattle, but our limits will not permit us to particu- 

 larize. 



But a few swine were exhibited. We noticed a 

 fine Suffolk boar, about seven months old, and 

 weighing one hundred and eighty-four pounds, be- 

 longing to A. C. Collier, of Concord. 



Poultry was on the ground in full foi'ce and fea 

 ther — several hundred of fowls, at least, including 

 all kinds; but so scattered and mixed that no com- 

 fortable survey of them could be obtained. 



But the crowning treat of the day was at the din- 

 ner table; Judge Hoar, the President of the Socie- 

 ty, presided in his usually felicitous manner, and 

 in his opening speech "set the table in a roar." 

 Several most happy speeches were made by Messrs. 

 Everett, Winthrop, Francis, of Lowell, F. W. 

 Lincoln, of Boston, and others. 



From the spirit manifested by our Middlesex 

 friends, and from all the productions of the farm 

 and the workshop which we saw on that day, there 

 cannot be a doubt but there is not only already a deep 

 interest in the subject of agriculture among them, 

 but that that interest has caught a new spirit, and 

 is rapidly increasing. With fine markets near, 

 and every facility for transportation, the hills and 

 valleys of Middlesex are fast becoming productive 

 and profitable. 



NORFOLK COUNTY SHOW. 



The annual exhibition of this society was held 

 at Dedham, on the 24th ult. 



The number of entries on the society's books in- 

 dicated that the exhibition would have equalled any 

 that has heretofore taken place, had it not been for 

 the storm which occurred the night previous to the 

 exhibition. 



This society is in a most prosperous condition, is 

 doing a great deal to promote the interest of agri- 

 culture in all its branches, and is destined to add 

 much to the happiness and comfort of the inhabi- 

 tants of all sections over which its influence ex- 

 tends. 



The exhibition of cattle, swine, &c., was mea- 

 gre in numbers, but not in quality. Norfolk Coun- 

 ty is not a cattle-raising county, but no agricultu- 

 ral show in New England will produce better cat- 

 tle and swine for breeding than were shown at Ded- 

 ham. The Ayrshire, Durham, Devon, Jersey, 

 and last but not least, the native cattle, were of 

 such character and appearance that the exhibition 

 may justly be proud of the possession of them. The 

 same must be said of the swine exhibition. 



The exhibition of embroidery and other needle- 

 work shows that the wives, sisters and daughters 

 of the farmers of Norfolk Co. are imbued with the 

 right spirit, and are willing and able, too, to do 

 their share to carry out the purposes for which this 

 society was designed. 



The ploughing was well contested, and although 

 the teams maybe"nothing tobrag on," the plough- 

 men were of ihe first order. The field selected was 

 not the most favorable for the exhibition of their 

 skill, but the manner in which they handled their 

 "tools" shew that they were finished workmen. 



The display of fruit was very creditable to the 

 exhibitors, particularly in apples and pears. 



This society has always had at its shows a fine 

 display of fowls. The Dorkings and Marsh Shang- 

 haes exhibited were as usual very superior speci- 

 mens. Ducks and geese were fairly represented. 

 There was also a fair display of turkeys. The 

 coop of fowls which altiacted the most attention 

 and excited the greatest admiration, was entered 

 by J. P. Childs, of Woonsocket, R. L These 

 fowls are of t-h at breed known as Black Spanish. 

 They were imported by Mr. John Fiickee, of Wa- 

 terford, Mass., and are from stock bred by his fath- 

 er, in England, into whose possession the progeni- 

 tors of the fowls exhibited came, upwards of fifty 

 years ago, and by whom they have been bred for 

 that length of time without any crossing. 



The Ayrshire and Jersey cattle exhibited by 

 Thomas Motley, Jr., of Roxbury, Samuel JJen- 

 shaw and J. H. Trowbridge, of Brookline, were 

 very fine. The North Devons shown by B. Y. 

 Fiench and others were equally good. These gen- 

 tlemen are truly benefactors to the public. 



Too much praise cannot be given the Committee 

 of Arrangements. They shew extraordinary tact 

 and judgment in arranging the exhibition. Nothing 

 w-as wanting. No alteration could have been for 

 the better. 



This society has purchased a tract of land con- 

 taining about four acres, on which stationary pens 

 and enclosures have been erected this season, leav- 

 ing sufficient space for the accommodation of visitors. 

 It is intended before another annual exhibition takes 

 place to erect a large, commodious and substantial 

 building for their use. 



There is, among the gentlemen who are mem- 

 bers of this society, a commendable spirit cf liber- 

 ality which is worthy of imitation by members of 

 other county agricultural societies. Several dona- 

 tions have been made to it. Mr. G. W. Smith, of 

 Dedham, gave the sum of three hundred dollars; 

 and the entertainment at this exhibition was pre- 

 pared at the expense of Mr. John Gardiner, Chair- 

 man of the Committee of Arrangements. One thou- 

 sand tickets and upwards were sold, — thus by Mr. 

 Gardiner's liberality the sum of five hundred dol- 

 lars has been added to the funds of the society. 



A great step is gained, when a child has 

 learnt that there is no necessary connexion between 

 liking a thing and doing it. 



(J^ A high churchman was once asked, "What 

 made his library look so thin?^^ His reply was, 

 "My books all keep Lent." 



