SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



The Nineteenth Annual Exhibition of the Soeiety was held on their 

 grounds in Fitehburg, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 'JOth and 

 27th. The list of attraetions offered by the Committee of Arran (de- 

 ments was more extensive and varied than usual, the >iew features 

 being' an exhibition of machinery in operation, a trial of Steam Fire 

 Engines, and a Balloon Ascension. 



The number of entries of all kinds of Stock was lart^e, and the 

 classes of Thoroughbred Stock, Family Horses, and Swine, were espec- 

 ially full. There were 112 Thoroughbreds shown, all fine, and many 

 of them splendid animals. 



The confident anticipations of good weather, felt by the friends of 

 the Society on Monday night, were rudely dispelled by fo" and. first, 

 drizzling, and then drenching, rain on Tuesday, but on Wednesday the 

 weather was beautiful, all that could be desired. The attendance was 

 what might naturally have been expected under such circumstances, 

 rather thin on Tuesday, but on Wednesday probably the lari^est the 

 ♦Society's Exhibition has ever drawn together. 



The programme for Tuesday was carried very nearly, in spite of the 

 ruin, but in consequence of an accident at the Gas Works, no ga.^ 

 C'ouid be had, and Prof. King was obliged to postpone his balloon 

 tiscension till the next day. 



It was, outside the Hall, especially for the exhibition of cattle, wit h 

 one "Trot" by men, and one by horses, added in tho afternoon. 



The Plowing Match had been 'omitted, by vote of the Trustees at 

 their meeting in December last, to the very evident regret of man v, 

 tmd it .seems likely thctt the offer of premiums for this jjurposo will be 

 renewed for the coming exhibition. 



Leomin.ster and Princeton furnished Town Teams of Oxen, which 

 were very creditable to them and to the Society. 



Very general regret was expressed at the remov.il of nearly all the 

 neat stock on Tuesday afternoon, and it is earnestly hjped that some 

 arrangement may be made by which this can be avoided in future. 

 Our accommodations are convenient and suitable in every respect for 

 keeping the stock over night, and it woitld be greatly to the advantage 

 of the Society if this could be done. If the difficulty lies in the time 

 of holding other Shows, let us try, throuo;h the Board of Agriculture, 

 to have their or ou'- times changed. 



The .show of Fiiiit, Flowers, and the finer 3Ianufac(ured Articles in 

 the Tapper Hall, was excellent, both in quantity and (|uality. In qual- 

 ity, at least, it was said by many persons to compare fav(jrably with 

 the same departments in the New England Fair at'Lowell. 



The Mechanical Department in the Lower Hall was hardly in work- 

 ing order generally on Tuesday forenoon, but during the afternoon of 

 Tuesday and the whole of Wednesday the many interesting and beau- 

 tiful machines in operation and on exhibition, drew crowds of inter- 

 ested and delighted spectators. This Dopartmr'nt, from Its novelty and 



