MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 453 



it should have been. A proper enthusiasm in the pouhry line 

 prevails, and good specimens were exhibited. 



The horticultural exhibition was gratifying to the most san- 

 guine friends of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. In apples, the 

 show was better than any other witnessed by your delegate 

 this season. Of pears, there were good specimens of several 

 varieties, and of vegetables the collection was large and ex- 

 cellent. 



One great object of the appointment of delegates to visit the 

 shows of the various societies, is to collect whatever may be 

 found peculiar and praiseworthy in the arrangements of the 

 show visited, and as well to report for the consideration of this 

 board, whatever is, in the opinion of the visitor, of questiona- 

 ble good. 



It is the privilege of the undersigned to have seen here much 

 to commend, and little to condemn. 



1st. The show of fat cattle was remarkable ; and nowhere 

 else, to the knowledge of your delegate, has any one farmer 

 equalled the display of Harrison Bacon, of Parre, who exhibit- 

 ed thirteen steers, that weighed, in the aggregate, thirteen tons. 



2d. The arrangements for the show of horses, though not 

 precisely peculiar to this society, is commended for general 

 adoption. A course was laid out, encircling the cattle pens, 

 and at a given hour, previously announced, and well known, 

 the committee on horses took their stand, after having exam- 

 ined the horses in a state of rest, to judge of them in motion. 

 The contest of speed at no time degenerated into a jockey- 

 race, although the competition was at times close. 



3d. The articles of butter and cheese, for which this coun- 

 ty is famous, were entered by numbers on the secretary's 

 books, with corresponding numbers attached to the boxes and 

 tubs. The committee, in judging of these articles, were thus 

 uninfluenced by the unacknowledged but often potent spell of 

 the previous reputation of an exhibitor. The firmest men are 

 swayed by trifles more than they themselves would desire; 

 and common humanity is governed considerably by fear or 

 favor; and will be, so long as human nature continues to be 

 human nature. 



