APPENDIX. xi 



Of poultry there was a fine show of thirty entries. At a signal 

 from the Fitchburg Band, which was on the grounds, the ploughing- 

 match commenced at ten o'clock a. m. The work was well done con- 

 sidering the condition of the soil on which the trial was made. 

 There was a fair show of agricultural implements of various kinds. 

 In the hall was a creditable supply of vegetables ; flowers and fruits 

 were in profusion. 



The exhibition of harnesses was superb. 



Of bread and canned fruits there were twenty-five entries of each ; 

 twelve entries of butter, and four of cheese ; of apples there were 

 200 plates ; pears and grapes 100 plates each ; and there were some 

 fine-looking peaches. 



The most remarkable feature of the exhibition was the array of 

 machiner}^ which was in full operation by steam-power. Your 

 delegate thinks that Fitchburg takes the lead in this line of exhibi- 

 tion. 



At one o'clock, the clambake, which had been in full preparation 

 all the forenoon, was ready, and the tables were soon surrounded by 

 about three hundred persons. The dinner over, speeches were in 

 order, and Governor Washburn, followed bj- other speakers, made 

 some interesting remarks on the occasion. The daj-'s exercises 

 closed with a little horse-trotting and a lOot-race. On the second 

 da}' there was an exhibition of horses in the morning, and a trial of 

 draught-horses and oxen. 



I am sorry to say that the finances of the Society exhibited a 

 deficit at the close of the fair, the receipts at the gates being greatly 

 diminished b}' the bad weather. 



Thos. L, Allis. 



WORCESTER SOUTH. 



The morning of the 11th of September, 1873, witnessed the open- 

 ing of the annual farmers' festivals of Massachusetts. It was the 

 good fortune of j-our humble servant to be called to the Worcester 

 South. The early morning promised anything but a pleasant da}'. 

 The genial sun, as if in answer to the numerous pra3'ers, soon dissi- 

 pated the threatening clouds, and brought joy to thousands of 

 anxious hearts. But the effect of the threatening was to prevent 

 many from coming with their contributions, and consequently some 

 of the departments were not filled to the satisfaction of the 

 managers. 



The ploughing was the first on the programme ; there was some ten 

 or twelve entries. The ground was rather light, with a gravelly bot- 



