152 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and found on them thirty-two cows, two yokes of oxen, four 

 bulls, thirteen two and three years old cattle and seventeen 

 horses. The cows, some of them, would compare quite favorably 

 with the best at the exhibition of other societies in the State ; 

 also the young stock. The oxen and bulls would not. Should 

 judge the horses to be good for the farm ; for speed probably 

 would not exceed 2:89^-. Sheep, sWine, poultry — none on 

 exhibition. I was informed by the president of the society 

 that the farmers were becoming interested in it, and intended 

 to bring in more of their stock, but were prevented by tlie rain. 



The ploughing match, it was supposed, would not take place 

 as by the programme, on account of the rain ; but it did. I 

 was not there, and therefore cannot speak of its merits. 



From the show grounds I next visited the great centre of 

 attraction for Nantucket people, and all visitors to the island 

 on this occasion, — the Athenasum Hall, — which I found alive 

 and full of the most intelligent and industrious ladies that I 

 ever saw, who were decorating and fitting it up in the most 

 splendid style. Among the decorations were evergreens and 

 mottoes extending from one end of the hall to the other, 

 flowers of all descriptions, fruit with flowers formed into pyra- 

 mids, bouquets, wax figures, paintings, and shells with mosses 

 from old ocean and land, all, all tastefully arranged by the 

 ladies, forming a most beautiful sight. In one corner of the 

 room I observed some very nice house plants, and over them 

 this motto, " we bloom in beauty." Back of the stage were 

 hung paintings, shells tastefully arranged in frames, and over 

 them the motto, " These are Thy glorious works. Parent of 

 good," and others I might mention. 



The needle work by the ladies was very fine, and much of it 

 was pronounced by good judges, who were visitors on the 

 occasion, to be equal to the best of French work. Fruit of 

 all kinds, very fine, (with the exception of apples,) grapes, 

 peaches, quinces, finer than I ever saw before. The sight was 

 most beautiful to behold. 



In one of the lower rooms of the building was the exhibition 

 of vegetables, which was good, potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips? 

 onions, pumpkins, squash, — all were large and fine ; some corn, 

 which was a very good specimen of the above vegetables. 

 There was not a great display of butter ; there was but one 



