130 



NEW ENGLAND lARMEU, 



BfOVEMnER 5, 1834. 



Five pair of cotton stockings aecoiii(ianyiny a 

 large lot of woollen, (this Conitnitlee not being 

 charged with the latter) and three palm leaf hats, 

 all of which were the work of the inmates of the 

 Lunatic Hospital in this town, deserve particular 

 mention as evidence of ability (under the kind and 

 skilful superintendence of the gentleman who is at 

 the head of that valuable Institution) for useful 

 employment on the ])art of those who are suffering 

 from the infliction of the greatest of human iufir- 

 niities. One of the hats was wrought by Miss Re- 

 becca S. Beaman in five hours. 



The Committee would also notice n card of 

 wood screws by C. Reed & Co. of Worcester, pa- 

 tented, and unanimously considered an article of 

 superior excellence, a handsomely made hatchet 

 and die-plates for cutting screws, with specimens, 

 manufactured by Messrs. Parker and Dryden of 

 West-Boylston, (for which a gratuity of $1, is 

 awarded) similar die-plates, specimens and a well 

 finished bitstock by Francis Davis of West-Boylston 

 (recommended also for a gratuity of like amount), 

 four weaver's reeds thoroughly finished, sent for 

 exhibition by Edward Orreil of Providence, two 

 beautifully made broad loom shuttles, sent by 

 Messrs. Fowler, Pratt *i King, of Wilkinsonville ; 

 a tooth extractor by Reuben Randall of Leicester 

 (with which it was proposed to experiment upon 

 a suffering member of the Comndttee but he de- 

 clined the test, preferring the visible evidence of 

 its good workmanship), a machine for crimping 

 boots of abundant power and apparently well suit- 

 ed for its purpose, by John M. C. Wales of Milford ; 

 a curious labor-saviug machine for cutting curd 

 upon a simple principlB, exhibited by Isaac Hunter 

 of New Braiutree, which the Comujittee recom- 

 mend to the attention of Dairy-women ; a rocking- 

 chair by Francis Wood of Worcester, in which it 

 is believed one might sleep luxuriously, (but each 

 member of this Committee protests that he did 

 not make the trial); u newly invented truss by 

 Sand. Cutting of Worcester, apparently well made ; 

 a portable oven by Caleb Newcond) & Co. of Wor- 

 cester, remarkable for the convenience, and econ- 

 omy of fuel with which it may be used for all 

 the purposes of an oven or baker, three cast-steel 

 hoes by Messrs. Tower & Lathrop of Milbury, a 

 child's "carriage by G. Valentine of Northborough, 

 of beauty and ingenuity enough for one which might 

 carry children of a larger growth, a lot of shoe- 

 lusts manufactured by a newly invented machuie 

 by Milton D. Whipple & Co. of Douglas, consist- 

 ing of 18 sizes, all from the same pattern, and 

 graduated in mathematical proportions, and a pa- 

 tented machine for cutting fodder shown by David 

 P. King (the operation of which was witnessed and 

 tried by the Committee) simple in construction, 

 worked with great ease, capable of being graduated 

 to cut the material in various lengths, sold lor 

 $30, and recommended by this Committee to the 

 examination of all who may be interested. 



A bushel of " Mercer potatoes" were sent by 

 that highly respectable and valuable member of the 

 Society, Dr. Oliver Fiske of Worcester, raised from 

 seed originally obtained from Pennsylvania, and 

 slated by him to possess the good ijualitiesof ripen- 

 iiii' remarkably early and keeping well. The yield 

 of this year was abundant. 



Winter apples very large and fair for the season 

 were presented by gentlemen whose names are un- 

 known to this Committee, and several boxes of 

 honey, by George Fitch of Lancaster. 



Several curiosities, chiefly vegetable; were fur- 



nished by difi'erent gentlemen (among which was 

 a watermelon which was eyed with peculiar so- 

 licitude by the Committee), manunnth squashes, 

 &c. and, if last not least, the honest disc of a Sun- 

 flower, rivalling the apparent magnitude of its lu- 

 minous namesake. 



All which is respectfully submitted — per order. 

 Edwin Conant, Chairman. 



REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE OSf SAVINE. 



William Limcol?i, of Worcester, Chairman ; Si- 

 las Brooks, of Worcester; Joh.n A. Smith, of 

 Leicester; Joshua Harringto.^ of Gratton. 

 The Committee on Swine, beg leave, in the first 

 place to congratulate themselves on the dignity of 

 ihe elevated and im|)ortant station, whose duties 

 they have been called upon to undertake by the 

 favor of the Trustees. Although, they have felt 

 that deep sense of humility which is usually ex- 

 pressed by public officers, they considered them- 

 selves bound not to decline the distinguished mark 

 of the Society's confidence, conferred upon them, 

 as it was entirely unsolicited. 



Secondly : They congratulate the jiigs upon their 

 easy present condition and fat future prospects. 

 The pleasure the commiitee have been permitted 

 to enjoy of spending a brief space in such good so- 

 ciety, has been alloyed by a consciousness of want 

 of ability to do justice to the merits of a race so 

 endeared to our affections. But they venture to 

 hope that the earnest desire to understand its in- 

 teresting and amiable character, which has sustain- 

 ed them under the heavy ies[)onsibility of their 

 task, may excuse the imperfect manner in which 

 it has been performed. 



Thirdly : They congratulate the Society upon 

 the nund)er of swine of distinction, from all parts 

 of the town of Worcester, who in the absence of 

 welcome guests from abroad, have graced the fes- 

 tival by their presence. And, finally, they congrat- 

 ulate the conmiunity that so many of its members, 

 owners of the tenants of the pens, will have the 

 means to live as well, as they should virtuously. 



Twenty-eight swine, all from Worcester, were 

 placed in the Society's pens this morning, and im- 

 mediately entered into the agricultural spirit of the 

 occasion, by connnencing an imitation plougliing- 

 match, on the sod of the common. This was 

 prosecuted with such zeal, that when the com- 

 I)etitor8 were almost exhausted by their labors, 

 they even laid down to the work, and dragged 

 themselves along in the furrow. The ploughs 

 were of excellent construction, uniting the advan- 

 tages of the double mould board and side-hill 

 plough, turning the ground equally well in any 

 direction, and second only to the skilful manufac- 

 tures of our neighbor Mr. Noiu'se. The work was 

 done in thorough manner by single teams, with- 

 out a driver. 



The Committee found, in one of the pens, a 

 congregation so numerous as to excite fear that the 

 plan suggested by a former committee of calling a 

 convention of swine for redress of grievances, had 

 been adopted, and the delegates assembled. An 

 animated discussion was going on, which seemed 

 to be conducted in the common eloquent and able 

 style of public meetings. Before any resolutions 

 passed or nominations were made, it was discover- 

 ed from the Secretary's entries, that the collection 

 cousisted of an interesting family circle of fourteen 

 pigs and two breeding sows, exhibited by Maj. Sim- 

 eon Burt, of Worcester. After diligent examina- 



tion, the commitlee awarded to that gentleman the 

 first premium for l)igs, of $3. 



The second premium of 82, was awarded to 

 Messrs. Hey wood & Rice, for two pigs, six moiulia 

 and eight days old. 



Jlr. Samuel Bannister, of Worcester, exhibited 

 two very pretty white little creatures, twelve weeks 

 and tour days old. It could scarce liave been ex- 

 pected lliiU aidmals of such an age, would have 

 appeared in public, on such a stage. Like all fe- 

 males, they were beautiful, and commanded the 

 adndraii(in of ihe Committee. The pigs were of 

 the quarter Byfield breed, and their grandniollitr' 

 ha<l obtained a |)reinium on a former occasion. 

 After ni;itnre deliberation, the Commitlee consider- 

 ed their elder competitors as entitled to the spti-itio 

 bounty offered by the Society, but recommended 

 that a gratuity of $2 should be bestowed on the 

 owner, as a testimonial of approbation of his skill 

 and attention in the improvement of a useful race. 

 The first |irenduin of §5, for the best breeding 

 sow, was awarded to Maj. Simeon Burt, of Wor- 

 cester. The Comu)ittee jiarlicularly and ileejily 

 regretted that the second premium was not claim- 

 ed by any competitor. An animal, entered on ihe 

 Society's books, by Dr. Oliver Fiske, was imdtT- 

 stood to be confined at home by domestic aiid ma- 

 ternal cares. Others, doubtless, were preventdi 

 from venturing abroad by the damji air of a cloud- 

 ed morning, and a state of the weather unfavorable 

 to creatures unprovi<led with shawls or india-rub- 

 ber over-shoes, whose delicacy must render wet 

 feet or exposure to sudden cold, peculiarly disa- 

 greeable. 



The Commiitee, in whose acts the Chairman 

 could not, and did not participate, direct him to 

 report, that the Hon. John W. Lincoln is entitled 

 to the first prendum of $5, for the best boar, and' 

 Dr. Oliver Fiske to the second premium of $3, for 

 the next best. From a brief biographical sketch 

 of the latter, furnished by Dr. Fi?ke, it appeared 

 that bis keeping had been of the common descrip- 

 tion, except that to the usual meal of boiled jiola- 

 toes, the owner had kindly added a dessert of ap- 

 ples, — and that he had bcrcdilaiy merit, being off- 

 spring of an animal of the Bedfonl line, which last 

 year obtained a premium. 



Several swine were placed in the pens for ex- 

 hibition only, by Stephen Salisbury, Ksq. which 

 the Committee unanimously considered as the best 

 of all those they had the honor to examine. They 

 were of the Leicester, crossed with the cominoii- 

 breed, — nearly as broad as long, — short nosed, — 

 fine haired, — contented looking, — of grave coun- 

 tenances, — quiet and unassuming manners, and 

 perfectly beantil'ul. 



While the March of mind has been going on,., 



until it is said to have almost reached its April, 



when societies are founded for all the possible, and 

 many of the impossible objects of benevolence, for 

 ameliorating the condition of every thing, tioni 

 the squash of the North to the slave of the South, 

 it cannot fail to excite surprise that no distinct as- 

 sociation has been instituted for the purpose of 

 rendering pork more amiable and excellent. It 

 canuot be determined how much good might bt 

 done by the use of proper means and exertions- 

 except by experiment. Many of the new and im- 

 proved school books might be advantageously giv- 

 en to the pigs ; as the classes for which they were 

 designed would be relieved, and it is not probable 

 those to which they were appropriated would be 

 much injured. Perhaps the most expedient and. 



