secretary's report. 5 



In the afternoon, came a very successful exhibition of trot- 

 ting horses for premiums offered by the Society. The entries 

 were confined to animals owned by members of the Society, and 

 the interest in this portion of the exercises was manifestly in- 

 creased by this limitation. The " Horse Trot " has now come 

 to be recognized as an indispensable part of the programme of 

 Agricultural Exhibitions, and the statement in the report of last 

 year that " no Agricultural Society in New England has been 

 without its horse trot the present season " may be repeated this 

 year, although a few societies still oppose what was at first con- 

 sidered an unwarranted innovation. The amount of premiums, 

 according to the last State report, awarded and paid out by the 

 Agricultural Societies of Massachusetts to trotting horses exceed- 

 ed in amount the premiums paid out in any other department ex- 

 cept live stock, and of the thirty-one societies in the state, 

 twenty-three awarded and paid out over twelve thousand dollars. 



Premiums were also offered for horses driven by ladies and 

 skill in horsemanship, with very satisfactory results ; and a fine 

 exhibition of the national game by the Rollstones of this city 

 and the Lowells of Lowell, was one of the chief attractions of 

 the day. 



The exhibition this year was in every particular a decided 

 success. This result is to be attributed to the interest shown by 

 the citizens of Fitchburg and the members of the Society, the 

 reduced price of admission, and the pleasant weather. For the 

 first, the Society is largely indebted to the efforts made by the 

 Board of Trade of Fitchburg. By means of frequent discus- 

 sions of the Society's affairs at the monthly meetings of the 

 Board, and the interest excited by the influence of its members, 

 the " Worcester North " has again taken its place among the 

 living institutions of the city, and it is certain that future exhibi- 

 tions will be more successful than the last one, if only this re- 

 newed interest is maintained. 



Much of the success of an exhibition of this nature de- 

 pends upon the promptness with which the various parts of the 

 programme are carried out, and the good order maintained. In 

 these particulars, the result was especially satisfactory, and great 

 credit therefor is due to Capt. E. T. Hayward, chief marshal, and 

 his efficient aids. With a longer programme than ever before, 

 and the largest crowd ever upon the grounds at one time, every 



