242 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



called out His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth, 

 who spoke some twenty minutes, interesting the audience touch- 

 ing the subject of agriculture. 



Other men were called out who interested the audience. 

 Among the rest Benjamin Dix, " relic of another age," who 

 is ninety-one years old, retaining all his faculties in a remark- 

 able manner— one of the originators of the society in 1798, and 

 had attended every anniversary during the whole time. This 

 is the oldest society in the State ; it was chartered in 1802. 



The dinner table is an interesting part of this annual gath- 

 ering. The farmers, with their wives and daughters, set down 

 together, enjoy an hour or two around the festive board is a 

 privilege. 



There is an influence for good in drawing men together ; not 

 only farmers, but mechanics, manufacturers, professional and 

 commercial men, breaking down the walls of partition, and we 

 are brought to feel that we are one great family, and there is 

 one great interest in which all are dependent — the success of 

 the farmer. When they prosper all prosper. 



And finally it was the best managed exhibition and fair 

 throughout I have ever attended. One day's duration. Every 

 thing done in order, in season, and well done. No rows, no 

 drimkenness, all civility. And now I have only to thank the 

 officers of this society for their kind hospitality. 



Justus Tower. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH. 



The undersigned attended the third annual exhibition of the 

 Middlesex North Agricultural Society, at Lowell, on the 16th 

 of September, as representative of the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, and was most cordially received and hospitably entertained 

 by the officers and other gentlemen of the society. 



The day was fine, and the exhibition of a character to do 

 honor to the society and promote the interests of Agriculture. 



The exhibition ground of the society, which was purchased 

 last year at fifty dollars per acre, is situated on the line of the 

 Boston and Lowell Railroad, about a mile from the city of 



