REFOliTS, &c. 



INTRODUCTOKY REMABKS. 



The Fair of the Society was this year held at Haverhill, on the 

 26th and 27th days of September. The arrangements were well 

 cari-ied out by the citizens of the place, who manifested more than 

 ordinary interest in the occasion. For the first time in the history of 

 the Society, a large number of ladies were at the public dinner, the 

 tables being spread in the large tent recently purchased by the So- 

 ciety. The receipts at fhe Hall of Exhibition amounted to the sum 

 of $893, being far more than sufficient to defray incidental expenses. 

 The show of fruits and vegetables was unusually large and excellent, 

 whilst the display of shoes and other articles manufactured from 

 leather, fully sustained the reputation that lias so long been enjoy- 

 ed by Haverhill and its vicinity. 



The entries of stock made with the Secretary were 17 fat cattle, 

 13 bulls, 11 milch cows, 34 heifers, 21 pairs of working oxen, 10 

 pairs of steers, 14 horses, 8 breeding mares, 3 stallions, 32 colts, 

 and 40 swine, besides other animals entered informally with the 

 Committees. Thirty teams entered for the plouging match, nearly 

 all of which were on the ground and competed for the premiums. 



Whilst the Shows of the Society have been steadily improving 

 in some departments, there does not appear to be any great ad- 

 vance in the quality or. quantity of the neat stock exhibited from 

 year to year. There are in all our towns — though Essex is not a 

 stock-breeding county, and perhaps never less so than at present 

 — many fine animals which have never been exhibited at our Shows. 

 Various causes operate to deter their owners from sending them — 

 the risk and expense in getting them to the show, the trouble at- 

 tending the same, the small amount of the premiums, and the fear 

 of being unsuccessful in competing for them — and it is worthy of 



