secretary's report. 



Fitchburg, and one from Leominster were exhibited at eleven 

 and a half o'clock. The show of blood stock was excellent, 

 there being twenty-seven entries. The show of grade and 

 native stock was not as good as at some of our previous Fairs. 

 The exhibition of sheep, poultry and swine was good. 



After dinner at the Fitchburg Hotel, the members of the 

 society assembled at the lower town hall, where Hon. Ohio 

 Whitney of Ashburnham, President of the society, congratu- 

 lated the members on the success of the present exhibition, 

 after which he introduced the delegate of the Board of Agri- 

 culture, Mr. N. S. Hubbard. 



Mr. Hubbard said that people having come to hear Col. 

 Bullock, he was diffident of occupying the time. He expressed 

 his satisfaction at the fine exhibition of fruit in the hall. 

 The social element in these Fairs repaid all their expense, 

 but more richly when we see the fine cattle and the delicate 

 handiwork. Here we compare notes, giving each other the 

 benefit of our experience. We do not give sufficient cultiva- 

 tion to our crops. We want to know how to get the best 

 cultivation for the least labor. He almost wished the pro- 

 ducts of the soil commanded a higher price, that young men 

 might be induced to engage in agricultural pursuits. He 

 alluded to the great advance in labor-saving machines on the 

 farm — to the mowing machines, the improved plows, lessen- 

 ing by one half the manual labor on the farm, making the 

 farmer's work a pleasant one. 



Elias Grout of Ashland was introduced as a member of the 

 Board of Agriculture. He had been highly entertained and 

 gratified, but would have been more pleased if the grounds, 

 the exhibition and dining halls could be made more common 

 and social, and afford opportunity for a more free interchange 

 of ideas. By improving the soil we enhance the value of the 

 people and advance the interests of the nation. One reason 

 why our crops are not better is that we do not study to apply 

 labor to best results. We should know exactly when we put 

 the plow in the soil what will be the crop, and this we can do 



