APPENDIX. xvii 



butter, cheese, fruit and vegetables, were all such as the society may be 

 proud of. 



Sixty-four varieties of pears, and six of apples, were exhibited by D. 

 R. Tyler, of Warren. P. D. Allen, of Warren, exhibited ten varieties 

 of apples and a splendid lot of cranberries. A bed of the latter, as dug 

 from his meadow, and thickly covered with ripe fruit, looked really fine. 



The latter part of the day was devoted to the exhibition of horses, and 

 the display was very good ; but being obliged to leave during this exer- 

 cise, I cannot report particulars. Their means of showing the horse are 

 not as good as if the society had grounds of their own, which every 

 agricultural society needs ; and I hope the time will soon come when 

 this society will be able to purchase suitable grounds for the exhibition 

 of all their stock. 



In conclusion, let me say that the question has often arisen in my own 

 mind, whether there were not too many agricultural societies receiving 

 State patronage ? And I will confess, that while on my way to attend 

 the fair of this society, it occurred to me that this might be one which 

 was not of sufficient benefit to the community to justify the expense. 

 But when I witnessed the crowd of people in attendance, all interested 

 in every part of the exhibition, and being able to testify that the differ- 

 ent departments of the shotv^ and fair were all full, and that the plough- 

 ing match, the trial of working oxen, the dinner, the address, the show 

 in the hall, all were entered into with zest, how could I say that the 

 agricultural community of Worcester South were receiving no benefit ? 

 The show continued but one day, and I was surprised fo see with what 

 promptness every exercise was performed — there was no hurry, but 

 everything on time. 



It has been said that the success of an agricultural society, or a 

 farmers' club, depended upon the energy of its ofiicers ; and I am 

 inclined to the opinion that this society owes something to its presiding 

 officer. 



My thanks are due to the president of the society, to Dr. Hartwell, 

 and Mr. Gray, of the " Southbridge Journal," for courteous attentions. 



John M. Smith. 



WORCESTER SOUTH-EAST. 



Delegated by the Board to attend the ^ixth annual show and fair of 

 the Worcester South-East Agricultural Society, I reached the town o£ 

 Milford, by the first train from Boston, on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth 

 of September, the first day of the fair. Proceeding to the town hall, I 



