APPENDIX. xliii 



in making examinations and investigation into the great variety of 

 articles and animals on exhibition. 



Before proceeding thus, we of course paid our resj^ects to Presi- 

 dent Baker, who was actively engaged in the discharge of his 

 duties on the occasion. 



With some friends of agriculture whom the president introduced, 

 we proceeded to the hall where the fruits, flowers, fancy articles, 

 products of the dairy, pickles, jellies, bread and honey were shown, 

 and found said hall packed to its utmost capacity with things usual, 

 and possibly some which were less common on such occasions, 

 the fruit, and so forth, comj^aring favorably with what we had 

 witnessed at other places. Owing to the small size of the hall, 

 room therein for the disjilay of vegetables was not available ; hence, 

 a passage through the wall had been made, a tent thrown uj), under 

 which the potatoes, squashes, beets, turnips and others of the 

 vegetable tribe were arranged, together with a portion of the fruit. 

 The specimens shown were creditable to the producers. 



In some instances, however, the exhibitor made the slight mis- 

 take of exposing his largest specimens, without regard to form or 

 quality. Enormously large roots or tubers are not generally palat- 

 able to bipeds, even with the usual condiments. They may do to 

 cut up for cattle or awine, but quickly grown, medium sized, clean 

 and smooth specimens are vastly preferable for culinary purposes. 



From the hall and tent connected, we wended our way to the 

 cattle i^ens, which were rapidly being filled. We saw good speci- 

 mens of Jersey and Ayrshire and Devon stock, though we beheve 

 no remarkable claims were set up in favor of individuals. The 

 native stock, too, looked well. Indeed, the cattle consisted of just 

 such specimens as one would expect to meet, who is familiar vrith 

 the soil of Marshfield and adjoining towns. We think Shorthorns 

 would fare but poorly in the pastures in that locality, which, as we 

 judge, the farmers there fully understand. A goodly number of 

 mares and colts were on the ground, some of which were very 

 fine. 



Immediately after dinner, on the first day, an instructive address 

 by Dr. Loring, in the large tent, was listened to by an interested 

 audience, after which things moved on in the natural channel till 

 night set in, closing up the business of the day, when we found 

 ourself quite unresistingly conveyed to the residence of John H. 

 Bourne, where we were hospitably entertained till the exercises of 

 the second day opened, which was quite early. 



In company with the family of Mr. Bourne, at an early hour our 

 face was set towards the fair ground, on approaching which, our 



