INTRODUOTORY. 



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The prevalence of a dangerous disease among neat 

 cattle, induced the Trustees of the Society, early in the 

 summer, to withdraw all offers of premiums previously 

 made, pertaining to this most important class of Farm 

 Stock, and thus exclude from the Exhibition all of those 

 valuable animals for which our shows have been named. 

 Notwithstanding this much regretted necessity, which 

 would deprive the Exhibition of its most prominent, and 

 usually most attractive feature, it was thought best not 

 to discontinue the festival ; consequently the remaining 

 portion of the list of premiums was carefully revised 

 and enlarged, several entirely new features being added 

 to it, and thus preparations were made for a partial 

 Fair and Exhibition, without the usual Cattle Show, 

 which was held at Fitchburg, on Tuesday, the 25th day 

 of September. 



The weather in the morning was pleasant and 

 agreeable ; but a heavy shower in the early part of the 

 afternoon, interfered somewhat with the arrangements 

 for the after dinner exercises. 



The out of door exercises commenced with a Spading 

 Match on land of David Boutelle, Esq., on Summer 

 Street. This Match, one of the new features of the 

 occasion, which was contested in a spirited manner, and 

 witnessed by a large crowd of interested spectators, 



