INTRODUCTORY. 



On Tuesday, the 25th day of September, 1866, the town of Fitch- 

 burg was overflowing with visitors to the Fourteenth Annual Exhibi- 

 tion of the Worcester North Agricultural Society. The weather early 

 in the morning looked dark and threatening, but gradually the clouds^ 

 cleared away, affording a much pleasanter day than was expected. 



The members of the Society may well congratulate themselves upon 

 the success of their Exhibition this year, bringing out as it did branch- 

 es of industry which sometimes are not so fully represented as we may 

 w;ish ; thanks are due the mechanical portion of the community for their 

 hearty cooperation in making this one of the most successful fabs ever 

 held by the Society. 



Much credit is due Mr. Edwki P. Munroe, the leading spirit in the 

 arrangement of the Hall. Disregarding the set form of past years, he 

 originated a new order of things, thus securing more room for tables 

 and also for the public. 



In the centre, tables were placed in a cruciform, and covered with 

 fruit and flowers. Other stands in the shape of an ellipse surrounded 

 this, on which were displayed fruit and vegetables. On the outside 

 were arrayed machinery, dry goods, furniture, musical instruments, 

 millinery, confectionery, specimens of art, etc. The display of grapes 

 was inferior to previous years, owing to the fact that that fruit had 

 not attained its maturity. 



Some very superior vegetables were produced ; and the quality of 

 the fruit, though not so large a display as in some previous years, was 

 superior, and it is a pleasing fact to notice that the selections and 

 quality increase from year to year. 



Monday was the preparation day; articles were required to be depos- 

 ited in tlie Hall previous to two o'clock P. M., when the several 

 committees, called together at that time, attended to their duties. 



x\t six o'clock the doors were thrown oj)en to the public. The 

 music furnished by Putnam Brothers' full Band added not a little to 

 the evening's entertainment. 



At nine o'clock on Tuesday the plowing match took place on the 



