APPENDIX. xiii 



and carriage horses was good ; also breeding mares with colts. 

 Good specimens of ploughing and drawing with both horses and 

 cattle were given. 



In the department of fruit and vegetables the aiTay was superior 

 in numbers, and in many instances in quality. A large collection 

 of manufactured articles arrested the attention of the visitors, em- 

 bracing an endless variety, among which were many novelties. The 

 exhibition of butter and cheese was quite limited. 



The annual address delivered on the second day of the fair, by 

 Col. Needham, was listened to with interest, and I doubt not with 

 profit. The benefit to be obtained by the annual gatherings of our 

 farmers for the pur^^ose of exhibiting their products, relating to 

 each other their experience and observations, comparing notes as to 

 results of nev measures and experiments, has been well and often 

 remarked upon, and they are to be encouraged and sustained in 

 every honorable way ; but there should be a vigilant eye that noth- 

 ing creeps in to give it a bad name, which would be a reproach to 

 any people. 



I am not unmindful of the courteous attention of the president 

 of this society and the very generous hospitality of its active and 

 efficient secretary. 



Chas. C. Basse tt. 



WORCESTER SOUTH. 



Early on the first day of October your delegate arrived at 

 Sturbridge, and found the members of the society wide awake and 

 hard at work. Everj-thing was under motion, promptly keeping 

 step with the programme. The oxen were in the yoke, the cattle 

 in their pens, poultry and swine in their cages, and the committees 

 were on hand waiting for their instructions. 



The exhibition grounds are large and pleasantly located, pur- 

 chased and fenced the past season, upon which the society has 

 built a spacious hall, combining economy, durability and conven- 

 ience, with ample rooms for exhibition and dining jDurposes and for 

 public speaking. A good half mile trotting course, wide and thor- 

 oughly graded for horses ; pens, shelters and hitching posts, ample 

 and secure, the whole arrangement costing about $12,000. The 

 ploughing match was the first order of the day. There were ten 

 yoke of oxen and one pair of horses manned by skilfiil ploughmen 

 competing for the society's premium. This society seemingly fully 

 appreciate the importance of this branch of agricultm'e, and realize 



