300 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



delivered liy Professor Clark, of Amherst. This was listened 

 to by the large audience with the closest attention ; the sulijcct 

 being- illustrated by diagrams, added much to its value, as all 

 could understand the points as explained by the speaker. 



At the conclusion of the address, the premiums in silver 

 plate, were distributed among the successful competitors. 



During the evening of the first day, a very pleasant re-' 

 union of the members of the society was held in the hall, 

 on the fair grounds, at which the ladies were present. Short, 

 but pithy speeches were made by several gentlemen, the general 

 tendency of which went to prove, that there is no life like that 

 of the farmer, for real independence and consequent enjoyment. 

 The speeches being interspersed with good music, the evening 

 was pleasantly and profitably passed. 



The festivities of this exhibition were appropriately closed 

 by a ball, on the evening of the second day, which was very 

 generally attended by the lads and lasses of the surrounding- 

 district. 



In closing, I would remark that a very noticeable and 

 gratifying feature in this exhibition, is the fact that this society 

 is almost entirely composed of working farmers. Xo wealthy, 

 fancy farmers (so called), had their blooded stock here to 

 compete with, and discourage the workers from contending for 

 the premiums, as is undeniably the case in some places. 



This society has grown up amidst some discouragements, but 

 owing to the perseverance and determination of a very few 

 persons, it has now become firmly established. There has beeu 

 some effort made to get up a rival society, whose grounds 

 would be located within a few miles of those at Middlefield. 

 I was glad to hear that many who had heretofore favored a 

 separate organization, are coming forward and joining this. 



If we have not already too many societies in our State, I 

 am sure that we have enough, and they are so scattered that 

 all can be reasonably accommodated. I trust that the idea of 

 another society in this vicinity, will be abandoned. Two weak 

 societies could not help the cause of agriculture, as can one 

 strong one. In a sparsely populated district like this, farmers 

 must be willing to come from a distance, and I feel assured 

 that if those within the society's limits will come forward and 

 help the cause, that the Highland Society will become one of 



