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Grange exhibitions a separate and distinct department. 

 The show of Farm Stock, Poidtry, &c., was held in a 

 vacant lot on the bank of the Merrimac river. Here also 

 was the creditable display of agricultural tools, a depart- 

 ment worthy of generous recognition in all of our fairs. 

 The Ayrshire herd of Mr. J. D. W. French, of Andover, 

 deserves especial mention, among the numerous entries of 

 dairy stock. The show of horses was inferior in quality. 

 The lack of comfortable stalls, with the absence of a suit- 

 able place for showing horses, either to halter or in harness^ 

 doubtless dampens the enthusiasm of horse owners to com- 

 pete at this fair. Your delegate found some of the horses 

 on exhibition confined in their stalls by boards nailed in 

 front. It was easy to see how the animal was put in, but 

 how could he be gotten out ? As the classes were called-, 

 this difficulty was solved by the use of an axe. If our 

 fairs are designed as object lessons in the best agricul- 

 tural methods, surely methods so primitive and wasteful 

 should be avoided. The poultry exhibit was large, and 

 many fine specimens were shown ; an entire lack of class- 

 ification and arrangement detracted much from its pur- 

 pose of giving either instruction or pleasure. The draw- 

 ing contests were shown on one of the rising streets of the 

 city. Certainly the most sensitive could have found 

 nothing here to offend. There was neither the harsh 

 word, nor more cruel whip. Not the extreme limit of 

 strength was called for, but the ability to move heavy 

 loads with firmness and ease. The plowing match, though 

 a mile distant, was a splendid object lesson in this impor- 

 tant branch of successful tillage. The Essex Society em 

 phasizes by its generous premiums, its belief that good 

 ploughing is an important step in good farming. I close 

 this hasty report, assured that the Old Essex Society, with 

 its accumulation of wisdom, gained from the Fathers that 

 sleep, and from her sons still loyal and true, needs not 

 the advice of the stranger within her gates. Many of 



