MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 677 



suppose that we have in New England, farms and gardens 

 that will compare so favorably with the best I saw in Europe, 

 as many will now in Norfolk and Essex. 



MR. WALKER'S REPORT. 



EXHIBITION OF THE MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



The Fifty-eighth Annual Festival of this Society, the oldest 

 in the Commonwealth, was held at Concord, on the 6th day 

 of October last. 



An immense concourse of people were in attendance from 

 all parts of the county. The day was favorable, and the 

 arrangements having been made with great judgment by per- 

 sons long familiar with the details of such an exhibition, and 

 executed by those accustomed to perform like duties, every- 

 thing was conducted with order and decorum. No time was 

 lost, no confusion occurred, and ample opportunity was given 

 for all the proceedings necessarily connected with the occasion. 



The ploughing match was first in order. To this there were 

 forty-three entries from all sections of the county, and no less 

 than thirty-seven teams actually engaged in the contest; a 

 larger number than we have witnessed in any ploughing 

 match in the State, indicating very unequivocally the great 

 interest taken by the farmers of Middlesex in this part of their 

 exhibition. The scene excited great interest. 



The trial took place in an extensive field lying upon one of 

 the banks of the Concord River, belonging to the gentleman 

 who represents the Society at this Board, and was admirably 

 adapted to the purpose. A more spirited scene has never, 

 perhaps, been exhibited on any similar occasion. 



The large number of competitors, the excellence of the teams 

 and ploughs, and the numerous spectators gathered about the 

 spot and looking on from every little surrounding eminence, 

 all combined to make the display one of unusual interest. 

 The work was well and rapidly executed. One team accom- 

 plished its share — one-eighth of an acre — in seventeen minutes, 

 and all was done so neatly and expeditiously, that it must 



