4 INTRODUCTORY. 



t;u-m of Mr. Abel F. Adams on Blossom Street. There were thirteen 

 teams — six double, three siugie and four horse teams. The ground 

 was well chosen and though the teams were required to go up and down 

 upon a side hill, it all the better exhibited their work. Next came the 

 organizing of the committees on stock, drawing, t^c. 



The trial of working oxen and draught horses took place at ten 

 o'clock, immediately followed by the trial of working steers upon the 

 usual ground near the Unitarian Church. 



A cavalcade of family horses and stallions upon exhibition pas'sed 

 around the Common at eleven o'clock, soon followed by a town team 

 of twenty-two yoke of oxen from Leominster, the only one entered. 

 Seldom among the hills of the *' Old Bay State" do we find a better 

 display of swine than was in the pens on the Common. The exhibi- 

 tion of sheep and neat stock was excellent. 



The Winchendon Cornet Band was in attendance through the day. 



For once the Society were not "' late to dinner" but promptly at 

 lialf-past twelve o'clock sat down to tables bountifully spread at the 

 ■Fitchburg Hotel. 



At two o'clock the usual business meeting of the Society was held in the 

 Lower Town Hall. With three exceptions speeches were made by the 

 past presidents of the Society, and one of those was represented by a 

 letter. They compared the past condition of the Society with the 

 present, expressing also happy anticipations for the futiu*e. Remarks 

 were also made by M. T. Watkins, Esq., of Hinsdale, member of the 

 State Boai'd of Agriculture. Hon. Alvah Crocker, of Fitchbiu-g. Messrs 

 Cyrus Kilburn, of Lunenburg, J. T. Everett, of East Princeton, 

 and Rev. R. W. Fuller. of Stowe. Some were of opinion that premi- 

 ums for corn ought not "to be offered, but that farmers should be 

 induced rather to cultivate as staple products hay and stock, which is 

 much more profitable for the soil of the State than any kind of grain. 



This idea provoked animated discussion, and the subject was at 

 length laid on the table till the annual meeting of the Society. 



The entries under Grain, Root Crops and Cabbages. :ire more tJian 

 last year but there seems to be a sad neglect in tliis department. 



The premiums offered for grain are liberal, and yet the money goes 

 in the same direction year after yetu'. There were this ye:ir only five 

 entries of corn, four of wheat, two of rye. three of barley, fom- of oats, 

 and two of field beans : twelve of these twenty entries came from the 

 town of Lunenburg. Last vear ten out of sixteen entries under the 

 same head came from that town. Xow if in Princeton, Leominster, 

 Fitchburg and the towns adjoining, as gt)od crops cannot be raised, 

 then let our friends in Lunenburg have the premimns ; but why yield 

 all the premiums and the credit just because so very few of our best 

 farmers compete'.' Will not the agriculturists of Worcester North give 

 a careful reading of the statements made by the successful competitors 

 upon grain, found in the rept^rt of last year (it is impossible to give 

 the statements made this year for i-ea.^ons stated elsewhere. ") and if 



