SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



The Twentieth Annual Exhibition of the Society was held at their 

 grounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 24th and 25th. We were 

 more highly favored in respect to weather than many others, the pres- 

 ent season, for both days were mild and pleasant. The attendance on 

 the first day was not very large, but on the second was fully equal to, 

 or greater than that at any other show of the Society. A different 

 result was feared by some, and boldly predicted by other?, ou account 

 of a somewhat radical change in the programme, viz., the leaving out 

 of all professional trotting for large purses, and the substitution 

 therefor of a mechanical department in which was shown a large num- 

 ber of the machines and other products of the manufacturing establish- 

 ments of Worcester North. The change was certainly without any 

 bad effect on the attendance, and yet, many of those who most desired 

 it, did not know it was to be made, and therefore did not exert them- 

 selves so much to secure the success of the Fair as they would if they 

 had known of , the difference between this and many preceding Fairs. 

 It cannot be denied that the ''Agricultural Horse Trot" is losing 

 favor amono- most of the Agricultural Societies of New England, at 

 least, and that in future it will receive a less share of attention, in 

 proportion to the more legitimate branches of the show. 



It is not likely that any less encouragement will be given to the 

 raisino- and exhibition Q,i really fine horses, for the demand, and prices paid 

 for such, are constantly increasing; but docility, beauty, fine carriage 

 and endurance will be sought for rather than the mere ability to trot a 

 mile in a few seconds less than the average of good horses. Many, if 

 not most of the fiist horses are utterly worthless except for exhibition 

 in a race, and to draw around them the gambUng and other crimes and 

 disorders which inevitably follow in their wake, but the 30 Gents' 

 Drivino- and Family Horses shown at our last Fair were every one of 

 them fil for solid use as well as pleasant to look uppn. 



The very general expression of favor with which the change was 

 received was exceedingly gratifying to those who had aided in bringing 



it about. 



The show of Thorough -bred Stock was better than ever before in 

 quality, though hardly up to those of one or two previous years in 

 point of numbers. As usual, Capt. E. T. Miles led in the exhibition 

 of Ayrshires, Mr. Augustus Whitman in Short Horns, and Mr. J. F. 

 Brown in Jerseys, but there were many fine animals shown by other 

 parties. 



Of grade and native stock there was less than usual, and but two 

 sheep, while of swine and poultry the display was excellent, and very 

 large. The following account of the mechanical exhibition we copy 

 from the Fitchhurg Sentinel : 



