812 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



As the delegate of this Board, I have to report that the Nor- 

 folk Society is vigorous and intelligent in its pursuit of agri- 

 cultural iniprovenicnt, and that its annual exhibition of 18G0 

 was held in compliance with the letter and spirit of the laws of 



the Commonwealth. 



George Marston. 



PLYMOUTH. 



The Plymouth County Agricultural Society is one of the 

 most wealthy, flourishing, and oldest societies in the State, 

 having heen incorporated in the year 1819. They have exten- 

 sive grounds, at Bridgewater ; a large and well arranged hall, 

 a half-mile track, and all the necessary fixtures, which make it 

 one of the most desirahle agricultural exhibition grounds in the 

 State. The fair was held on the 4th and 5th days of October. 



I was very cordially welcomed. To the president, Hon. 

 Charles G. Davis, I am indebted for much kindness, attention 

 and hospitality. Li no year has the labor of the husbandman 

 been more richly rewarded, or the general prosperity more 

 advanced. The season has been a fruitful one. Again has 

 been fulfilled the divine promise of seed-time and harvest. 



The ploughing match being first in the arrangements, I did 

 not witness, not arriving in season, but was told that it was 

 spiritedly contested and satisfactorily performed. There were 

 no cattle exhibited. Owing to the disease which prevailed in 

 the early part of the season, causing great panic and alarm, and 

 justly so, it was very properly thought best to exclude cattle 

 from the fairs in the middle and eastern portions of the State. 

 A cciUle show without cattle is like a summer without the light 

 and heat of the sun to invigorate, to cheer, and to gladden. 

 A very important part of the exhibition is wanting — and 

 although there is nuich to attract and to interest aside from 

 this, still the absence of this important feature creates a void 

 for which there is no substitute. To make up for this defi- 

 ciency in jiart, there was a large, most beanitiful and attractive 

 display of imo, horses. The exhibition on the course was of 



