vi APPENDIX. 



We missed the pleasure and the benefit of a public meeting at the 

 dinner table. Instead of this, however, a full assembly was gathered 

 in the town hall to be instructed and delighted by speeches from 

 Professor Agassiz, Hon. H. F. French, R. W, Emerson, Esq., and Hon. 

 Simon Brown. Only the lateness of the hour interrupted and closed 

 this intellectual treat. 



We have only further to say, that to us, this society appears to stand 

 in the position of an institution laboring under disadvantages, which 

 the officers and members will strenuously exert themselves to overcome. 

 In its past history are many pages which bear ample testimony to its 

 usefulness and its honor. And in its present character, it bears on its 

 records the names and works of men highly distinguished among agri- 

 culturists and horticulturists ; men who are benefiting the State and 

 the country, and who rightfully claim for the Middlesex Society an 

 honored place among the agricultural institutions of the Commonwealth. 



Charles C. Setvall. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH. 



Mr. Garfield, who was appointed to visit the annual exhibition of the 

 Middlesex North Agricultural Society, held on the 29th of September, 

 1864, failed to appear, and the officers requested me to report in his 

 stead. 



Let me in the outset remind the Board that the rain poured down in 

 torrents from early in the, morning imtil late in the afternoon, which 

 will account for deficiencies in several branches of the show. Members 

 not knowing the rules of the society may be surprised to learn that in 

 some classes the entries reached so large a number. The truth is, the 

 society had determined to have a fair which should transcend all pre- 

 vious ones in point of excellence, and the rules requiring many classes 

 of stock to be entered previous to the day of exhibition, were so made 

 without reference to elements over which they had no control. Only 

 four teams, however, contested in the ploughing match — one single 

 yoke of oxen and one pair of horses ; double teams, two yoke of oxen, 

 and one pair of oxen with one horse. 



There were four draught horses entered for premium ; fifteen differ- 

 ent lots of bulls and bull-calves, consisting of Durhams, Devons, Alder- 

 neys and Ayrshircs, with some grade animals ; six entries of working 

 oxen ; five of steers. The towns of Tyngsborough and Dunstable each 

 entered a string team. Of milch cows there were twenty-one separate 

 entries. It being requisite that the weight of milk and pounds of but- 



