iv REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



« 



delightful weather made every one inclined to enjoy and look favor- 

 ably upon all things, so that, I fear, were there anything to which 

 your delegate should object, he would have been blind to it on that 

 exquisite da} r . 



My long drive to Concord, across the valley of the Charles, 

 and over the historic ground near Concord, put me in a most 

 favorable mood for viewing the various pleasing features of the 

 exhibition. 



Mr. Moore kindly received and showed me over the grounds. 

 The herds and swine, of various breeds, filled the sheds. Horses 

 for agricultural purposes were not, as I regret to say is usually the 

 case at our agricultural fairs, to be seen. 



The tables in the hall were covered with a magnificent display of 

 vegetables, fruits, and flowers, with some samples of butter, also of 

 good quality. This part of the exhibition was worthy of all praise, 

 and I passed a most delightful hour in examining it. Seldom 

 have I seen a more varied and beautiful array of the treasures of 

 autumn. 



The show of poultry in the basement was small, but good. 



The tables in the upper hall were well filled, and the crowd 

 of happy faces around the board was the pleasantest sight of all. 

 After the cloth was removed, the Rev. Dr. Hosmer of Newton enter- 

 tained the people with an extempore discourse, which was as genial 

 as the expression of his pleasant face. 



And then came the great and exciting feature of the day, — the 

 horse-trot, — which, to my mind, is wholly foreign to the spirit and 

 intention of the founders of these societies, and to the grant made by 

 the Commonwealth for their encouragement. The assurance that no 

 portion of the bounty of the State goes to the support of these poor 

 shows, is certainly some consolation to the mind of the conscientious 

 delegate from this Board. If the trotting were confined to horses 

 exhibited by the members of the Society, it would afford a plaus- 

 ible excuse for the entertainment ; but the lot of poor hacks which 

 generally are dragged from their hiding-places to travel over the 

 countiy, and, by previous agreement between their owners, divide 

 the small purses among them, are but a sorry sight to him who 

 wishes the agricultural societies to assume their true place, as insti- 

 tutions elevating the taste and educating, and not simply amusing, 

 the people. 



It was a pleasing contrast to be called from the race-course by 

 Mr. Moore, and, in company with Mr. Hove} - , to be driven through 

 the shady streets of Concord, by the old battle-ground, out to his 

 delightful farm, and shown those gardens, green-houses, and 

 meadows where he grows his fine vegetables, flowers, and fruits, 



