286 BOAED OF ArTRICULTURE. 



in l)acking heavy loads, wliicli was equal to that of the best 

 trained oxen. 



The show of fruits and flowers was very large and fine, the 

 long tables in tlie hall being (juite filled with them. Large 

 numbej's and varieties of pears Avore exhibited, which, though 

 not equal to the magnificent specimens grown in the immediate 

 vicinity of the metropolis, were many of them really fine and of 

 the most approved sorts. The apples were abundant, and better 

 than the pears. A few varieties of grapes were shown, but 

 owing to the unfavorable season, they were not very ripe, nor, 

 except a few hot-house grapes, of the best varieties. Charter 

 Oak and wild grapes are not worth growing, now that we have 

 g;oo(l and hanhj grapes that will give abundant crops on any 

 good corn soil. My belief is that good grapes may be grown on 

 the sunny slopes of the hills in this town. 



Of vegetables there was not a very large display, nor were 

 they of the best quality. I confess to some surprise at this, for, 

 in our Middlesex, farmers think they cannot go into the winter 

 without a good supply of roots to feed out to their cattle with 

 the dry fodder of that season. Roots promote the health of the 

 cattle and are an alternative, to grain in feeding or fattening, 

 and it is undoubtedly good husbandry to grow them. 



I was much pleased with the exhibition of articles of home 

 manufacture. Shawls, counterpanes, and many other speci- 

 mens of household industry, wrought with much taste and skill, 

 bore evidence of the housewifery accomplishments of the ladies. 



l^egant specimens of boots and shoes, and palm-leaf hats — 

 wliich are made in this town in great numbers — were also 

 exhibited. After an eloquent address from the Plon. A. H. 

 Bullock, of Worcester, the Society went to dine, and the cere- 

 monies of the day were over. 



E. W. Bull. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



The annual exhibition of this society was held at Fitchburg, 

 on the :^")th of September. 



The interest usually felt in the occasion was somewhat 

 abated by the absence of cattle ; but the efforts of the mem- 

 bers of the association to secure a good representation of other 



