APPENDIX. iii 



The exhibition in the Town Hall was another surprise to me. 

 Such an array of specimen fruits and vegetables, roots, seeds and 

 flowers, would be highlj- creditable to an}" town, cit}', count}- or 

 even countr}'. To see m}- old pet pears, the Bartletts, the Flemish 

 Beauties, the Belle Lucratives, grown up into such prodigious dimen- 

 sions, made me doubt at first whether I was in California or old 

 Essex. This field of the fruit, flower and esculent plant of the 

 count}' might well repay the study of a student of nature for more 

 than a single day. 



The services in the church were of a useful character, and the 

 whole day, enlivened as it was by the presence and civilities of 

 friends, was a very pleasant one to me. 



E. H. Kellogg. 



MIDDLESEX. 



The annual exhibition of this Society was held at Concord on the 

 23d and 24th of September. 



Professor Agassiz, the appointed delegate of the Board, was pres- 

 ent, as usual, at the post of duty, faithfully inspecting the several 

 departments, and, with his wonted eloquence, addressing the members 

 of the Society in words of kindly criticism, hearty congratulation 

 and sound advice. But alas ! before the time for the presentation 

 of his official report arrived, this great teacher and inspirer of men 

 was unexpectedly removed from the scenes of his earthly activity. 

 The farmers of Middlesex will gratefully remember that, while 

 enjoying a world-wide renown for genius and learning, he generously 

 labored to encourage and strengthen all organizations and institu- 

 tions designed for the advancement of agriculture and the ditfusion 

 of scientific knowledge among the people. 



The following brief report of the fair has been prepared at the 

 request of the secretary with the approval of the Board : — 



This Society owns a fine tract of some twenty-five acres of level 

 land, conveniently located near the depot of the Fitchburg Railroad. 

 The half-mile trotting-course is well laid out, and furnished with the 

 necessary structures for the convenience of judges and spectators. 

 Covered sheds for stock are arranged near the fence, along a portion 

 of two sides of the inclosure, and forty box-stalls afford excellent 

 accommodations for horses. 



The exhibition hall, erected at a cost of $16,000, is an exceed- 

 ingly tasteful and commodious edifice, one hundred and thirty feet 

 long by sixty wide, and two stories in height above the basement, 



