300 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



citizens. Almost nil the native or foreign varieties of the pear 

 and other fruits, have been added to our collections, for the 

 purpose of testing their excellence and adaptation to this loca- 

 tion and climate. Much attention has recently been paid to 

 the planting of orchards, especially the peach. This crop has 

 hitherto been considered too uncertain for profit, but the expe- 

 rience of the past few years has corrected this erroneous opinion 

 and increased its cultivation. 



The exhibition of agricultural implements was smaller than 

 was anticipated. While this was regretted, the society were 

 highly gratified with the ploughs manufactured by their mem- 

 bers, Messrs. Prouty & Mears, and especially with the prize 

 plough which received the first premium at the general compe™ 

 tition of the world's fair. From the same manufactory was ex- 

 hibited the Michigan sod and subsoil plough, noticed in the 

 transactions of last year, the work of which on the field, bore 

 additional testimony to its utility, and was deemed by the so- 

 ciety worthy of a special gratuity. This plough is constructed 

 with two shares, the one in advance, raising a sod of three or 

 four inches in depth, the other, following and covering it with 

 about the same depth of the lower soil. By this process, the 

 vegetable nutrition which is turned under with the sod, is pre- 

 vented from escaping during decomposition, and the inorganic 

 substances which are brought up in the subsoil, exposed to the 

 beneficial influences of the atmosphere. For the turning in of 

 grass or stubble, this implement is considered as one of the 

 most important which has recently come to notice. The ad- 

 dress was delivered by George R. Russell, LL. D., of Roxbury. 



The society during the past season has purchased a lot of 

 land in Dedham for its future exhibitions. Upon these prem- 

 ises, there have been constructed one hundred and twenty pens 

 for domestic animals. A never-failing well of excellent water 

 has been dug, and the whole enclosed by a substantial fence. 



The funds of the association have not been much increased. 

 An accumulation was confidently anticipated, but the destruc- 

 tion by fire of its cattle pens, liuTiber and furniture, occasioned 

 a loss of about six hundred dollars, which it became necessary 

 to replace, and to which may also be added, as extra expenses. 



