6 secretary's report. 



To encourage competition from a distance, the Trustees 

 this year voted to make a reasonable allowance for keeping 

 all stock over night, when driven from a distance of more 

 than eight miles. 



It may not be improper here to call attention to the manner 

 of making entries by letter. A competitor hurriedly writes 

 that he desires to enter a colt for premium, but does not state 

 whether it is one or three years old. Another enters a two 

 years old heifer, but neglects to state whether for butter or 

 for milk. 



Another, perhaps, says he wishes to plow with two yoke of 

 oxen. So the Secretary enters his name under " Double 

 Teams." A land is provided under that class, and when the 

 hour of starting arrives and the people are waiting, 'tis found 

 that the " two yoke " were intended as two single teams. 



In other cases the age may be omitted or confounded with 

 descriptions of cattle, sheep and horses, and at the Fair the 

 Secretary is expected to have every detail correct in black 

 and white, if not, he is blamed for inaccuracy, blundering, &c. 

 Now all this trouble and perhaps hard feeling can be very 

 easily remedied if competitors will carefully notice our rules, 

 the specified classes for which premiums are offered, and 

 state plainly class, age, quality, &c, as they wish to have it 

 appear before the committee. 



The Secretary regrets that so many of the members of the 

 Society were obliged to dispense with Mr. Secretary Flint's 

 u Agriculture of Massachusetts " for 1864. Only fifty copies 

 were received, thus leaving but four or five copies after sup- 

 plying the trustees and officers of the society. 



The TVinchendon Band, eighteen pieces, G. TV. Gwinner, 

 leader, was in attendance, furnishing excellent music. 



Great credit is due to the President of the Society, and to 

 Col. John TV. Kimball, chief marshal, and his assistants, 

 for the success of the exhibition. 



