MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 45 



MIDDLESEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In the return of the doings of the Society of Middlesex Hus- 

 bandmen and Manufacturers, its Secretary, Abiel Heywood, of 

 Concord, states, " That the Society on the 7th of October last, 

 held its Annual Exhibition and Cattle Show at Concord. The 

 large crowd of farmers present from all parts of the county, and 

 the number, variety and beauty of the articles and products 

 brought for exhibition and premium, showed the deep interest 

 felt in the Society and its objects. There were more than twenty 

 entries for the ploughing match, and it was well contested, 

 though the previous drought had baked the earth so hard that 

 the furrows were turned with great difficulty. The other depart- 

 ments of the exhibition were unusually full, and evidenced a high 

 state of skill, industry and productiveness in the county, espe- 

 cially in that of fruits. 



One of the most interesting features of the exhibition, was 

 that of the stock imported by the Massachusetts Society for 

 Promoting Agriculture. They attracted much attention, and 

 showed the wisdom of that Society in their purchase, as, from 

 the interest manifested in them, there can be no doubt of their 

 being employed, to a large extent, in improving the breed of 

 cattle throughout the county. 



The Address was delivered by the Hon. John G. Palfrey. 



On Farms, <fec. 



In prosecuting their examination of Farms, the Committee 

 observed, with high satisfaction, the manifestations of the spirit 

 of improvement, in every town to which they were called. 

 Their attention was frequently attracted, as they passed from 

 place to place, by many neat and spacious dwellings, — by new 

 and well-filled barns, — by plantations of thrifty trees, luxuri- 



