ii REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



REPORTS OF DELEGATES 



APPOINTED TO VISIT THE 



AGRICULTURAL EXH IB ITI 0:N"S 



ESSEX. 



In pursuance of assignment by the State Board of Agriculture, I 

 attended what I suj)posed was the fiftieth annual exhibition of the 

 Essex Agricultural Society, at Ipswich, on the 27th and 28th days 

 of September, 1870. The Hon. INIarshall P. Wilder, in his report 

 of last year, says that the fifty-second annual exhibition was held the 

 preceding fall ; but as he also states that he had been absent twenty 

 years, it is not wonderful that like Rip Van Winkle he " was sorely 

 perplexed " after remaining away from the scenes of his earlier days 

 for so long a period, and even without " that flagon" which addled 

 Rip's poor head so sadly, our honored associate might well confound 

 dates, and out of sheer respect for the hospitable officers of this 

 ancient society, push it backward a year or two towards a riper old 

 age. In fact, when one learns that it has had presidents, secreta- 

 ries and treasurers holding office ten, twenty and twenty-five years, 

 it is but natural to look upon it as a time-honored institution, and 

 deserving of all the longevity man or time can bestow upon it. 

 This society was really formed in 1818, and is fifty-two years old ; 

 but as the programme calls the show of last fall the fiftieth annual 

 exhibition, I presume the organization of the society preceded any 

 exhibition of stock or crops, two years, so that it is not necessary 

 to abate in our respect for it on account of any immaturity. I'he 

 antique flavor of this society betrays itself in many peculiarities — 

 such as the absence of trotting and racing matches, the special at- 

 tention given to ploughing matches, the possession of a farm and 

 library, and no charge for entrance to fair ground, the remnants of 

 lace-weaving among its manufactures, the premiums offered for sub- 

 stantial improvements, the requirement of full reports to be signed 

 by all the members acting on the committees, and a request for fur- 



