476 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Exhibition of the Barnstable Society. 



The annual cattle show and fair of this society were held at 

 Orleans, low down on the Cape, on the 8th of October last. 

 The weather was very fine and a large concourse of people, 

 some from all the towns of our long and narrow peninsula, at- 

 tended. About 600 persons, one half of them ladies, dined in 

 company at Higgins's hotel ; and probably 1500 spectators in. 

 all, were upon the ground. It was the first time the fair had 

 been held on the Cape, below Barnstable ; and the occasion 

 showed, that among the people of the more sterile portions of 

 the county, there was a lively interest in the success of the so- 

 ciety, and the cause of agriculture. 



The ploughing match was the first thing attended to in the 

 exercises of the day. The number of ox teams was not so 

 large as usual, the farmers of this vicinity depending mostly 

 upon horse-labor for their farm work. It was well sustained, 

 and attracted, as usual, much attention. The exhibition of 

 stock, particularly of colts, was more extensive and better than 

 on any previous fair, and such as would do credit to any county 

 in the Commonwealth. 



There was a very good show of fowls, which was a new 

 feature in our exhibitions ; among these the Shanghae and Co- 

 chin China predominated. Of fruits and vegetables, were good 

 specimens of almost all the varieties of the season. The dairy 

 was not so well represented, though there were several good 

 samples of butter. 



The articles of domestic manufactures, which were numer- 

 ous and received the greatest share of attention, were displayed 

 in the Rock Harbor Academy. The room, as on other occa- 

 sions, was quite too small to exhibit the articles to advantage. 

 In this department were several new articles introduced, shell 

 monuments and vases of very tasteful design and workmanship, 

 crayon and other drawings, very beautiful. While there was 

 no lack of the usual quantity of fancy articles, of worsted work 

 and embroidery, the more substantial and useful products of 

 female labor, carpeting, hearth-rugs, coverlets, counterpanes, 

 blankets, cotton and wool cloth and hosiery, occupied a promi- 

 nent place. 



