xlii REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



are accustomed to think, that for fine oxen we must look to the 

 interior or western section of the State, and more to horses in the 

 eastern. But we seldom see finer oxen than Avere in this team. 

 Tiie lieaviest weighed nearly 4,000 pounds. 



More flit oxen M^ere on exhibition than I have usually seen at 

 other fairs. Nearly one hundred hogs and pigs were noticed and 

 many of them of superior quality, and largely of the Chester County 

 breed. One fat hog of enormous size was exhibited by Greorge 

 R. Ripley. 



Over a hundred sheep were noticed of the Leicester and South- 

 down breed, which shows that sheep are not entirely ruled out in 

 Eastern Massachusetts. The ploughing match was contested by 

 seven teams, all with drivers. The double teams ploughed ten 

 inches, and the single teams eight inches deep. It was stubble 

 ground and although ploughed very deep did not reach moisture, 

 so that the ground could not be left as evenly as it otherwise 

 would be. 



The exhibition of horses was good. The driving was more 

 particularly to show the horses, their docility and movements, with- 

 out regard to speed. The dralt horses showed power and careful 

 training. The trial of working oxen was excellent, on a load of 

 over 4,000 pounds besides the wagon. The test was by starting 

 the load over four-inch scantling, placed. in front of the wheels, 

 which showed the training of the oxen to a steady and heavy draft. 



In the ])0ultry department Avere one hundred splendid Avhite 

 ducks, exhibited by the President of the Society, Hon. Albert 

 Fearing. In the hall the show was unusually full, and showed no 

 traces of the drought. Apples were abundant, 3G7 plates and of 

 superior quality. Also, 348 plates of })ears of all the standard 

 varieties, showing the interest in fruit-growing in this section of the 

 State. There were thirty-one entries of bread, five of which were 

 by misses not OA'er fourteen years of age. This is an interesting 

 feature in the exhibition, showing that the young ladies are being 

 trained in the art of cookery. 



There were beans, rye, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, man- 

 golds, onions, corn, — a splendid exhibition, — watermelons, sweet 

 potatoes, a fine collection of squashes and muskmelons, carrots, that 

 looked as if they had penetrated deeply for moisture and nourish- 

 ment, and found it. Pumpkins and grapes were seen in large 

 quantities, the grapes looking very finely. In fact without enume- 

 rating further, I can say the exhibition in the hall and outside was 

 one that the society might well be jM-oud of 



The members of the society and others to the number of over 



