APPENDIX. xvii 



The races broiight out the people of all classes, and were for the 

 most part as interesting and as well managed as conld be expected. 

 The foot-race was not such as is usual or desirable ; one of the com- 

 petitors appearing literally stripped for his work, having substi- 

 tuted a single breech-cloth for the ordinary articles of dress. As 

 even with this light weight he was unable to win, his excited friends 

 rushed on to the track and pushed him forward, at the same time 

 preventing his competitor from getting before him. This created 

 intense excitement, and of course deprived him of any chance he 

 might have had to cross the line first by special exertion of his 

 own. 



There were several lots of swine, all of the large breeds, some 

 specimens having a \ixe weight of about 600 jiounds. The Chester 

 White seems to be the fiivorite breed among the farmers of this 

 society. 



Sheep were very few and of the large breeds, the best being 

 Cotswolds. 



The exhibition in the hall Avas very creditable, excelling particu- 

 larly in apples and grapes. Of the latter, fifteen varieties were well 

 represented ; the finest in appearance being the Concords of Dr. 

 Fisher, and the lonas of M. S. Heath. 



J. M. Sawtelle contributed a large collection of cut flowers and 

 plants in pots, and among other interesting species was a Turk's 

 ca]") cactus from the West Indies. 



The address was a home production by an honored and active 

 member of the society, Col. Alvah Crocker. His subject, " A New 

 England or a Western Home," was a most important one for the 

 young farmers of Massachusetts. The doctrine inculcated was that 

 with industry and intelligence a young man could find no better 

 place to live in than our own Commonwealth, and no more honora- 

 ble, healthful or desirable occupation than farming. 



A good dinner was provided on both days of the fair, and the 

 hour after the manual exercise was occupied in the usual American 

 style. 



On the whole, the aflfairs of the society appear to be judiciously 

 conducted and its usefulness increasing. 



Your delegate was enabled by the kindness of the proprietors to 

 visit the farms of Lyman Nichols, Esq., and Jabez Fisher, M. D., 

 and was deeply interested in the story of their many improvements. 

 The Board of Agriculture may feel a peculiar pleasure in the re- 

 markable success of Dr. Fisher, who was in part, at least, educated 

 on the Board, in his eiforts to demonstrate the value of intelligent 

 skill and thorough business habits in agriculture. He has just re- 



