346 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



where little coal had fallen, and where the ground 

 had not been heated. This result is what we had 

 hardly looked for. It cannot be set down as deci- 

 sive, however, that charcoal is totally inefficient in 

 preventing the rot. Other circumstances, of which 

 we are not apprized, may have liad an influence up- 

 on the crop — such as the free application of 

 manures for several years past, or that the soil is 

 exposed to the flowings of cold springs, both of 

 which have a strong tendency to aceelarate the 

 disease, if not produce it. 



It would seem that the severe heat to which the 

 ground was exposed must have destroyed every- 

 thing in the soil itself that is noxious to the plant, 

 and go far to settle the question, whether there is, 

 anything in the soil that induces the disease. 



BRISTOL COUNTY SOCIETY. 



The annual exhibition of this society took 

 place at Taunton, on the 9th and 10th inst. At 

 the Town Hall there was a magnificent display of 

 fruits and vegetables. The manufacturers and 

 mechanics of Taunton contributed largely in the 

 various departments of business, and New Bed- 

 ford was well represented by some excellent speci- 

 mens of the implements used in the whaling busi- 

 ness. The ladies of Bristol county furnished a 

 large number of articles of embroidery and nee- 

 dle work, and also aided in the various prepara- 

 tions of fruit. 



The exhibition of neat stock was good in quali- 

 ty and respectable in numbers, being chiefly of the 

 native breeds, with some thoiough-bred Devons. 

 There were no Jersey or Alderney cattle exhibit- 

 •■ed. By far the best bull present belonged to the 

 •society. This was a pure Devon, four years old. 

 The heifers and calves shown were of a superior 

 appearance, and would compare favorably with 

 those of any other exhibition in New England. 

 The working cattle were of a fine character, sel- 

 dom surpassed here or elsewhere. 



The swine were of the Suffolk breed, not many 

 in number, but of a fine quality generally. The 

 horses, both old and young, were very good, and 

 some of the colts were of great promise. Judo-ino- 

 from the appearance of the animals exhibited, 

 there must be many good horses in Bristol county; 

 and from the interest manifested in this branch of 

 the show, the farmers have arrived at the conclu- 

 sion that it is quite as well to keep good stock, as 

 horses of an infeiior quality. 



Sheep were present in considerable numbers. 

 The exhibition of poultry was rather inferior in 

 every respect, there being few present, and none 

 of them thorough-bred. 



At 9 o'clock, A. M., on Friday, the ploughing 

 match was held. There were thirty-three entries 

 for the contest. The ploughing was of a superior 

 kind. The ploughs used were manufactured by 



Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co., and D. Prouty 

 & Co., of this city 



At 1 o'clock P. M. a procession was formed and 

 proceeded, under the direction of Theodore Dean, 

 Esq., of Raynham, to Templar Hall, wliere three 

 hundred ladies and gentlemen partook of a dinner 

 furnished by J. B. Smith, of Boston, the celebrated 

 caterer. After the dinner, addresses were made 

 by Mr. Page, President of the Society, Governor 

 Boutwell, Mr. Proctor, President of the Essex 

 County Society, Attorney-General Clifford, B. 

 V. French, of the Norfolk County Society, and 

 others. The subjects of the addresses were, the 

 interest manifested by farmers and others, in the 

 various branches of agriculture, — the improve- 

 ments which are constantly being made in its prac- 

 tice, — and the establishment by the State govern- 

 ment of agricultural colleges and schools. 



The speech of Mr. Clifford, was, however, an 

 exception; he, having been called upon to respond 

 for the ladies to a sentiment complimentary to 

 them, which was given by Mr. Page, the Presi- 

 dent. Of this duty, Mr. Clifford acquitted himself 

 in a most happy and eloquent manner. 



This exhibition, was, as a whole, one of the 

 best that has taken place this year. It shows that 

 the farmers of Bristol county are conscious of their 

 own interests and desirous of advancing themselves 

 in a knowledge of their noble calling. 



The officers of Bristol County Agricultural So- 

 ciety, for the ensuing year, are, for President, J. 

 H. W. Page, of New Bedford; for Vice Presi- 

 dents, John Daggett, of Attleborough, and Alfred 

 Wood, of Dighton; for Treasurer, Samuel A. 

 Dean, of Taunton; and for Corresponding and 

 Recording Secretary, Timothy Gordon, of Taun- 

 ton. 



HAMPSHIRE AND HAMPDSN SOCIETY. 



The thirty-third anniversary of this agricultural 

 society took place at Northampton on the 7th and 

 8th of Oct. The Hampshire Gazette gives a pret- 

 ty full report of the affair. Their plowing match, 

 it thinks, was better than anything of the kind they 

 have had before. Thirty -two teams being entered. 

 Show of Cattle not very large. The show of 

 Horses better than any former one. Sixty-seven 

 entries were made. The show of fruit was very 

 superior. There were 840 samples. We agree 

 with the Gazette, that Mr. Graham, the Secreta- 

 ry, made a "most eloquent and beautiful speech." 

 Our friend Dodge, of the Journal of Agriculture, 

 who was present as a delegate from the Central 

 Board of Agriculture, had a "good talk" with 

 them, and made some confessions of early sins in 

 the legislature by aiding in cutting off Mr. Col- 

 man's agricultural head some j^ears ago. Mr. 

 WiNTHROP said he made no pretensions to knowl- 

 edge pertaining to the practical cultivation of the 

 soil. He spoke, however, of the great want of 



