APPENDIX. xli 



HINGHAM. 



This Society held its exhibition on the 23d and 24th of September. 

 The weather was rather unfavorable, and the attendance was some- 

 what diminished in consequence. No society has been more success- 

 fully managed or enjoyed greater prosperity- than this. The grounds 

 and buildings are admirably adapted to the uses of the Society, 

 while all the arrangements connected with the exhibition seemed as 

 nearly perfect as it is possible to have them. 



The ploughing-match was, as usual, a success, and attracted 

 much attention. 



Though this Society is sensible enough not to encourage horse- 

 racing, still it awards liberal premiums for good horses. There 

 were fine matched-horses, stallions, breeding-mares, colts and family- 

 horses on the grounds, which attracted much attention. It seems to 

 us, that this Society has struck the happy medium in regard to 

 horses, and we wish all other societies would follow its example. 

 They do not ignore the horse, that all acknowledge is one of the 

 noblest of animals, but the}- do not spend all their time, energy and 

 money in this direction, to the neglect of all other branches of 

 industrj'. It is said b}- some, that no such show can be a financial 

 success without horse-races, but the experience of this Society most 

 conclusivel}- proves the falsity of this assertion. 



Many fine working-oxen were shown ; some of them were truly 

 magnificent animals, equal to an}- we have ever seen. Conspicu- 

 ous among the number were those of the worth}' president, one pair 

 of which weighed 4,200 pounds, and were perfect beauties. 



There were on exhibition several fine fat cattle, which, if slaugh- 

 tered, would furnish beef good enough for an epicure. There were 

 several fine Jersey bulls, with A3'rshires, Durhams and Devons, 

 there being as many as eight that took prizes. 



Of calves and heifers there was a large show, including Jerse3's, 

 Durhams, Devons, Ayrshires and grades. There were man}' prizes 

 and gratuities awarded for this stock. Mau}^ of them were good 

 animals and would rank well at an}'^ cattle-show, large or small. 



One of the specialties of a Hingham show is that of swine, of 

 which there were fort^'-six in the pens. We have never seen so 

 mau}^ good pigs and hogs at any exhibition of any county society. 



Many sheep and lambs were shown, of the Cotswold, Southdown 

 and Leicester breeds. In no part of the State have we seen finer 

 animals of these breeds than were here shown. There were one 

 hundred and twenty of these animals on exhibition. How it is pos- 



