98 



REPORT OF DELEGATE FROM STATE BOARD 

 OF AGRICULTURE, 1896. 



I visited the fair of the Essex Agricultural Society, at 

 Peabody, Sept. 22, 23 and 24, 1896. Arriving there about 

 noon the first day of the fair I found the superintendent of 

 the hall and his assistants on duty. The exhibitors were 

 busy arranging one of the best exhibitions of fruit and veg- 

 etables that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, not in 

 size, but because each and every variety was properly 

 named and arranged, and only the best of specimens used. 

 This may in part be due to the fact that in Essex county 

 many of the best known vegetables had their origin, and of 

 the large number there engaged in market-gardening. 



The exhibition of works of art, fancy and needle work, 

 was large and excellent. The horses, cattle, sheep and 

 swine were well selected and good specimens of the breeds 

 which they represented. The poultry exhibit was large, 

 and would be a credit to any poultry Ijreeders' association. 

 Agents for agricultural manufacturing companies were 

 there showing the merits of their various implements* 

 Later I visited their new grounds, which are pleasantly 

 located, but rather small. The secretary's office, cattle 

 and horse barns, and sheep and pig. sheds are convenient 

 and well arranged. 



The second day there was a parade of the business men 

 of Salem and Peabody, representing their different busi- 

 nesses, which passed through the streets and was dismissed 

 upon the fair grounds. It was estimated that there were 

 fully 10,000 people on the grounds. 



This Society holds its annual dinner on the last day of 

 the fair. I did not understand the programme until I ar- 

 rived there, and as it was not convenient for me to be away 

 from home so long, I did not attend the dinner. I saw no 



