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REPORT ON THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY, AT PEABODY, 1900. 



To the Board of Agriculture : — 



The main features of the eightieth annual exhibition of 

 the Essex Agricultural Society were those of the old- 

 fashioned fair and cattle show, with outside attractions 

 slowly gaining foothold. Instead of the racing horse, the 

 crowd looked at the hurdle jumping horse, and seemed 

 well pleased. After long years of migrating, the Essex 

 Society has established its home in Peabody, erected suit- 

 able buildings for exhibiting cattle, horses and poultry, 

 lighted them with electricity, and has free use of the 

 Town Hall for its hall exhibition. 



The Society is well provided for, and with good atten- 

 dance assured by the close neighborhood of growing 

 cities, can look forward to long years of vigorous life 

 with small cause for anxiety : yet, to maintain this life, 

 the interest of the members must be kept. They must, 

 each year, contribute their share of cattle and horses, 

 fruits and flowers, needle work, painting and manufac- 

 tures. If the whole can be so managed that new men 

 shall hasten to make entries in place of those who drop 

 out from year to year, so that all classes shall be filled, 

 and space be wanting or hard to find, then the problem 

 for this Society is solved, and life and vigor is assured. 



This year a rainy morning delayed the placing of en- 

 tries, but the second day found things in good order, and 

 most spaces well filled. The street parade of decorated 

 wagons of tradesmen, grange wagons and carriages, made 

 a fine display and filled the streets of Peabody to over- 

 flowing. Many of the people followed to the fair grounds, 

 and found there a good exhibition of cattle, a few horses, 

 a fair exhibition of poultry, an excellent one of swine, 

 and a small exhibition of sheep, fine in quality, selected 



