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REPORTS

OF THE

WORCESTER NORTH

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

FOR 1853

PUBLISHED BY ORDER rOF THE. SOCIETY,

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FITCHBURG:

PRINTED BY E. & J. F. D.GARFIELD,
1853.

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The First Annual Cattle Show and Fair of this Society, under
the present organization, was held at Fitchburg, on the 27th day of
September, 1853. Although the weather was unfavorable, a vast
number of people were drawn together, and the show of cattle,
fruits, vegetables, fancy and manufactured articles, was very cred-
itable. There was a ploughing match in the morning ; after which
a most excellent address was delivered by Rev. Horatio Stebbins,
of Fitchburg.

Previous to 1850, there had been no Agricultural Society in the
north part of the County of Worcester, and the want of one was
much felt. There had long been one Society established in the
County, which held all its meetings at Worcester. Fitchburg is
twenty-five miles, and some of the towns, in the northwesterly part
of the County, are nearly forty miles from Worcester.

Some of our citizens were members of the County Society, and
participated in its benefits ; but owing to the distance, and conse-
quent expense of attending the meetings and shows, only a few of
our people received any benefit from that Society.

Some of the citizens of Fitchburg, feeling the importance of es-
tablishing a Society in this vicinity, met at the Town Hall, in Fitch-
burg, in March, 1S50, and formed a Society, under the name of
the Fitchburg Agricultural and Industrial Association, and invited
the citizens of other towns to join them. The admission fee was
SI, with an annual tax of SI. From this source, and voluntary
contributions from members and others, the Society has been able
to offer and pay $400 or S500 each year in premiums. The
annual shows have been well attended, and it is believed have pro-
duced much good. In 1852, an Act was passed by the Legislature,
to incorporate " The Fitchburg Agricultural Society," authorizing
the Society to hold property, but confering no other benefits.

The Society was organized under the Act of Incorporation, on
the first day of January, 1853, and a code of By-Laws adopted,
containing a provision that persons may become members by sign-
ing the By-Laws and paying five dollars, without being liable to
annual assessments.

In 1853, another Act was passed changing the name to " "Wor-
cester North Agricultural Society," and putting it upon the same foot-
ing with County Societies. The Act also authorized the Society to
receive members from towns in the west part of Middlesex County.
An effort was then made to raise and invest a fund, which would
enable the Society to draw from the State Treasury, a respectable
sum of money, to be expended in premiums.

The old Society conveyed to the new what property they owned ;
the admission fees of members amounted to more than fifteen hun-
dred dollars, and individuals contributed enough to make the sum
up to more than twenty-one hundred dollars, which was invested as
the law requires, previous to the first day of October last, and the
intention is to increase the fund to $3000, before October, 1854.

The Society is now established on a permanent basis, and it is
hoped and believed, that Worcester North and Middlesex West, will
derive great benefit from it.

The Ladies of Fitchburg and vicinity, are entitled to great credit,
for the interest which they have taken in the welfare of the Soci-
ety. They have each year held a fair, or " tea party," from which
they have raised some hundreds of dollars for the use of the Soci-
ety ; they have contributed largely to the interest of the shows, by
their attendance, and by exhibition of their handiwork, products
of the dairy and cook-room ; — and it is believed that this Society
introduced the practice of inviting the ladies to the public dinners
on cattle show days.

KEPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

PLO WING.

Committee.— J. T. Everett, Princeton, — Benj. Wyman, Westminster,
— Benj. Wallis, Ashby, — Daniel Works, Fitchburg, — Antipas Maynard,
Ashbumham.

The Committee appointed by the Trustees of the Fitch-
burg Agricultural Society, to award the premiums to the
competitors in the Ploughing Match to-day, have performed
that duty, and present the following Report.

The number of entries for ploughing was thirteen, and by
the following persons, viz :

Nathan B. Reed, of Princeton, one pair of oxen.

Levi Kendall, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

Levi Downe, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

Joel Page, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

Leonard E. Osborne, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

Samuel Farwell, 2d, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen,

Daniel Miles, of Westminster, one pair of oxen.

Daniel Miles, of Westminster, one horse team.

Albert B. Damon, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen,

Josiah Sheldon, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

Joseph Upton, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

James P. Putnam, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.

The best piece of ground that could be obtained for the
purpose was on the Fitchburg Poor Farm, in a field of some

four acres, so uneven and stony as to prevent the land being
laid out for the workmen in parallel lines. The soil was
a deep solid loam, and somewhat stony, with a tough sward ;
making it a very undesirable task for the competitors, though
quite as easy for the Committee to determine the compara-
tive skill of the ploughmen and the strength and training
of their teams, as in a more easy and friable soil. No time
was specified in which the work was to be performed, your
Committee believing it much more important that the ground
should be well ploughed than rapidly ploughed,— though,
every thing else being equal, dispatch should be considered
worthy of merit.

There were eleven teams that performed their task, and
taking into consideration the hardness of the soil, the task
was well performed.

There were many things to be considered by the Com-
mittee in judging of the merit and demerit of the various
competitors. They hesitated, examined, and re-examined
the work performed, before they could satisfy their own
judgments in making the awards.

A number of teams were unable to plough the required
depth, (seven inches.) Some of the competitors did not
turn the furrow quite flat and smooth enough to be consid-
ered perfect workmen. One or two others performed with
their hands and their feet what should have been performed
with the plough. But the work on the whole was admira-
bly performed, — quite as well as in any preceding year.

Some of the teams performed their work in as thorough
and workmanlike manner as we ever witnessed. Not a
flaw could be discovered in the ploughman, his team, or
their work ; and they all did their work remarkably well
abating some of the defects we have mentioned.

The Committee are unanimous in awarding the following
premiums. But one horse team performed in the match ;
that was by Daniel Miles of Westminster, to which we
award the second premium of $3 00

To Joel Page, of Fitchburg, with one pair of oxen
and the Michigan plough, we award the first
premium of 6 00

To Josiah Sheldon, of Fitchburg, one pair of oxen
with Prouty & Mears' Plough, we award the
'second premium of 5 00

To Joseph Upton, of Fitchburg, Michigan Plough,

we award the third premium of 4 00

To Nathan B. Reed, of Princeton, Ruggles, Nourse,

Mason & Co.'s Plough, the fourth premium of 3 00
To Daniel Miles, of Westminster, Ruggles, Nourse,

Mason & Co.'s. Plough, the fifth premium of 2 00

Before closing our Report the Committee wish to make
one or two suggestions in relation to this important labor
of the husbandman.

The plough, the barrow, the shovel, and the hoe ; though
varying in their forms of manufacture, are of universal use
by farmers in all countries of the globe ; but the plough is
much more important than any other and probably than all
others put together. Either of the others could be dipensed
with, though with great detriment to the farmer. But the
plough could not, without clogging the wheels, and stopping
the progress of civilized life. It must be used in the prepar-
ation of the soil for all of the crops of the grasses, grains
and vegetables, of every nation ; and he who improves the
manufacture of the plough, or learns and teaches others best
how to use it, ought to be considered the benefactor of his
race.

Who can estimate the pecuniary advantage to the people
of our own State, of New England, and the whole country,
in the improvement in the manufacture of ploughs by Rug-
gles, Nourse, Mason & Co. and Prouty & Mears, not to
mention many others engaged on a large scale in their man-
ufacture.

The Committee would express their convictions of the
importance of deep ploughing in almost every kind and

quality of soil. It has been required, iu the ploughing
match to-day, to plough seven inches ; but that, in most soils,
is too shallow. When it is recollected that the roots of many
grasses descend as deep as eight or nine inches in search
of food, and that the roots of many vegetables go as deep
as two or three feet and more, it will at once be seen that
the common depth of ploughing at the present time — though
we plough much deeper than was practiced fifteen or twenty
years since — is far' too shallow. If the soil is shallow and
poor, the more need of deep ploughing, and every time such
soil is ploughed the depth should be increased, inch by inch,
until the whole surface of the ground is thoroughly pulver-
ized, nine or ten inches from the surface; thus giving the
ground greater capacity to throw toward the surface the
salts that lie buried in its bosom, to mingle with the gases
of the atmosphere, and thus give the greatest possible amount
of food to the vegetable kingdom; and if we had but two
words to say to all tillers of the ground, they should be,
'■'•plough deep" and more abundant and rich will be the
crops that mother earth shall give in return for your labor.
Respectfully submitted by the Committee.

JOSHUA T. EVERETT, Chairman.

WORKING OXEN.

Committee. — Ezra Kendall, Sterling, — Nathan Danforth, Princeton, —
Joel Hay-wood, Asliby, — Daniel Miles, Westminster, — James P. Putnam,
Fitehburg,

Your Committee upon Working Oxen, have attended to
their duty, and Report. The whole number of entries of
oxen were ten, and your Committee have had a hard duty
to perform in endeavoring to do justice to the various com-
petitors. We have many things to take into consideration,
viz: age, weight, and training; and all tending to influence
the result in the accomplishment of the work. And while
we would say that all were good,, we must conclude which

were best, as there are certainly three degrees of comparison,
in all cases.

Therefore, while we award praise to all, we award pre-
miums to the following.
To Henry Boyles, to his oxen and driver, the first premium

of five dollars. Age of cattle four years, weight twen-

nine hundred weight.
To Samuel Shattuck, the second premium of four dollars.

Age of cattle, five years, weight, twenty-four hundred

weight.
To Joel Page, the third premium of three dollars. Age of

cattle, four years, weight, 30 hundred weight.
To Nathan B. Reed, the fourth premium of two dollars,

upon his second yoke of cattle, five years of age, weigh-
ing twenty-five hundred weight.
Other cattle as I stated before, worked well, were trained
well, and did honor to their owners.

There were but two pairs of three year old steers brought
forward for trial : consequently your Committee were not
divided upon their work ; we give the first premium of four
dollars to Mr. Woodward, and the second of three dollars to
Mr. Raymond ; both pairs giving promise of future excel-
lence under the tuition of their youthful drivers.
All which is submitted.

EZRA KENDALL, Chairman.

HORSES

Committee. — Wm. D. Peck, Sterling, — Solomon Burpee, East Prince'
ton, — Joseph Hammond, Joseph Gushing, Fitcliburg, — Samuel P. Gibson,
Asliby.

The Committee appointed to examine the horses and colts
entered for premiums, have attended to that duty, and would
report :

That they were disappointed to find so few horses en-
tered. Only one stud horse was presented, and that, in the

8

opinion of the Committee, not a very superior animal ; yet
so far from being inferior that they feel justified in awarding
to Newell Marble, of Ashburnham, the premium offered for
the best stud horse, of five dollars.

A horse exhibited by Luther A. May, of Hubbardston,
struck your Committee as a much superior animal to the
one above mentioned.

Only three horses have been entered for premium as farm
and draft horses. The Committee did not consider either of
them as a good specimen of the farm horses of this region ;
but they evidently were not well kept, and were not in con-
dition to show all the good qualities they were naturally
possessed of. They award the premium of four dollars to
James Peirce, of Westminster.

Only one breeding mare was entered, and this the Com-
mittee did not consider of sufficient excellence to claim the
premium.

The show of colts was excellent, and is a very encourag-
ing feature of the exhibition, — indicating that more attention
is directed among our farmers to improving the stock, and
to introducing a superior breed of horses. Three three-year-
old colts were offered for premium. The Committee award
the premium of three dollars to Stephen Staunton, of Ashby.

The other two were very superior animals.

Four two-year-old colts were entered, and were all very
good ones. The Committee award the premium of two
dollars to Charles Nicholson, of Leominster.

A two-year-old colt entered by George B. Hubbard, of
Ashby, was a very superior one, and was considered by
your Committee as hardly inferior in excellence to Capt.
Nicholson's.

Six yearling colts were entered. These were all good.
The Committee award the premium of one dollar to Han-
dell Winship, of Westminster.

All which is repectfully submitted.

WILLIAM D. PECK, Chairman.

BEEF CATTLE.

Committee.— David H.Merriam, Fitcliburg,— Joseph Davis, Templeton,
—Harlow Skinner, Princeton,— Jerome W. Foster, AshburnJiam—MosQS
Sawyer, 2d, Sterling.

The Committee appointed by the Worcester North Agri-
cultural Society, to examine and report on Beef Cattle, and
award premiums, beg leave to snbmit the following as their
Report :

The Committee find the following entries for premium as
beef cattle, viz.

Ephraim Turner, Phillipston, four fat oxen and one pair
three-year-old steers.

Josiah Sheldon, Fitchburg, one pair of oxen.
J. T. Everett, Princeton, two cows and one pair of steers.
Rufus Hastings, Sterling, one ox and one cow, for exhibi-
tion.

F. Buttrick, Fitchburg, two cows for exhibition.
Premiums awarded as follows.
To Ephraim Turner of Phillipston, for best fat ox,

eight years old, first premium $7 00

To Josiah Sheldon, of Fitchburg, for the second best

fat ox, eight years old, 4 00

To Ephraim Turner, of Phillipston, third best fat ox, 3 00
To Ephraim Turner, of Phillipston, for the best pair

of fat steers, three years old, 5 00

To J. T. Everett, of Princeton, second premium on

fat cow, 3 00

To J. T. Everett, of Princeton, third premium on fat

cow, 2 00

The Committee examined a fat cow entered by Mr. Ru-
fus Hastings of Sterling, which they think would have been
entitled to the first premium, had he been a member of the
Society, but as he was not, they could not award any pre-
mium ; and there not being any cow entered which they
2

10

think is entitled to the first premium, they therefore do not
award it.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

D. H. MERRIAM, Chairman.

Note. By a vote of the Society, the first premium on fat cowa was awarded to Rufua
Hastings, of Sterling.

MILCH COWS.

Committee — Ebenezer Torrey, FitcTiburg, — Henry Boyles, Princeton,
— Howard Gates, Ashby, — George Miles, Westminster, — John M. Steven-
son, Sterling.

The Committee on Milch Cows, were all at their posts at
the appointed hour this morning, and having attended to
the duties assigned them, respectfully submit the following
Report :

The number of cows entered for premium, was but four.
Joseph P. Reed, of Princeton, is the owner of one of these
cows, which is ten years old, of the Devon and Holderness
breed. She gave, the first week in June, 316 3-4 lbs. of milk,
from which was made 15 lbs. of butter. The first week in
September, she gave 191 1-2 lbs. milk, which yielded 11 3-16
lbs. butter. Another cow is owned by Nathan B. Reed,
of Princeton, which is seven years old, of the Ayreshire,
Holderness and Native breed. She gave the first week in
June, 266 lbs. of milk, from which was made 12 lbs. of but-
ter; and the first week in September, she gave 163 lbs.
milk, from which was made 8 14-16 lbs. of butter. These
two cows have had no other keeping than by pasture during
the season, up to the 20th of August, and since that time,
corn fodder once a day.

Another cow was entered by Enoch Caldwell, of Fitch-
burg, who has owned her about four years, and supposes her
to be eight or nine years old. She gave the first week in
June, 237 lbs. milk, from which was made 10 1-2 lbs.
butter; and the first week in September, she gave, 220 lbs.
milk. She has had no extra keeping, having been fed

11

through the winter on hay and corn fodder only, and through
the summer has fed in a quite dry pasture ; but since the
first of August, has had green stalks twice each day.

The remaining one of these animals is owned by John
P. Sabin, of Fitchbnrg. She is of the Durham breed, eight
years old, calved seventh of March, the calf weighing at
one day old, 108 lbs. She gave the first week in June,
266 1-2 lbs. milk, and the first week in September, 202 lbs.
milk, being 468 1-2 lbs. for the two weeks, being nearly
13 1-2 quarts per day. Amount of butter tor the week in
June, 10 1-2 lbs. and for the week in September, 8 3-4 lbs.

The pasture in June was decently good ; in September,
rather short. One quart of meal or two quarts of shorts
night and morning, has been her usual feed through the
year.

These are all fine animals and good milkers. The Com-
mittee having fully considered all the particulars respecting
them, — the time at which they severally calved, the quantity
and quality of their milk, and especially the expense of
keeping of each, — have unanimously awarded the premi-
ums at their disposal, as follows, viz.

To Joseph P. Reed, of Princeton, the first premium, $5 00
To Nathan B. Reed, of Princeton, the second pre-
mium 4 00

And the third premium, for want of a fourth, they award
to Enoch Caldwell and John P. Sabin, jointly, to be divided
between them. For the Committee,

E. TORREY, Chairman.

TWO AND THREE YEAR OLD HEIFERS.

Committee. — George Kendall, Westminster, — Israel Everett, Prince,
ton, — Anan Stock well, Royalston, — Daniel Lowe, FitcJiburg,— Levi Burr,
Asliby.

Mr. President : Perhaps no department in the labors of
the agriculturist is more important, profitable, or worthy

12

his attention than that of the dairy. In order that he
may realize fully its benefit, he must c*all to his aid not only
science, but the observation and experience of himself and
others, that thereby the means may be well and successfully
adapted to the end. The farmer is, emphatically, his own
recruiting officer ; and as the members of his dairy compa-
ny are constantly passing out of the ranks, some at a good
old age, after having served their generation well, and
yielded their commander many pounds of the needful, others
have been turned out, being found destitute of those qualifi-
cations requisite in a good company of milkers. For all
recruits, to sustain and enlarge his dairy, the farmer must
turn his attention to the particular branch of the exhibition,
held to-day, which has occupied the attention of your hum-
ble Committee.

At the risk of trespassing upon the limits of the Commit-
tee upon New Milch Cows, (though we will not go into de-
tails) permit us to say that the same traits of character and
physical developement are necessary in the younger mem-
bers of the dairy, which are prominent in the real model
milkers of maturer years. If these are wanting, it is unwise
to retain such for the family. They should be at once dis-
charged, and given their rations, until they are considered,
by good judges, fit subjects for the butcher's knife; or turned
over to the breeding department. For who would think of
retaining at a branch of business a person that had no adap-
tedness or taste for that particular pursuit, especially if
profit was the ruling motive in view ?

Your Committee regret to say, (though they were thereby
relieved from otherwise so arduous a task,) that there was
but one entry for premium of three-year-old heifers, and
though there was no competition, yet your Committee were
at a loss whether to award the first or-second premium, un-
til they examined the written statement, giving the yield
of this heifer during the first week of June and of Septem-
ber, viz :

13

She calved, March 28 ; calf an extra one ; has been kept
with four other cows — no keeping but by pasture till the
20th of August, and then fed on corn fodder once a day,
upon which she gave, during the first week in June, 202
lbs. of milk, and made 8 10-16 lbs. of butter; the first week
in September, she gave 156 lbs. of milk, from which was
made 7 lbs. 14 oz. of butter.

Upon this statement, rather than the superior external
marks for a milker, your Committee have awarded the first
premium of $3,00, to Mr. Joseph T. Reed, of Princeton, for
the best three-year-old heifer, having had a calf. Breed, one
eighth Ayreshire, one fourth Holderness, and Native.

There was, also, but one entry of two-year-old heifers,
having had a calf. Had the Committee been furnished
with her yield of milk or butter, they might have arrived at
a different result ; but under the circumstances, they have
awarded to Mr. Joseph Upton, Jr. the third premium, of
$2,00, for his two-year-old heifer, having had a calf.

There were two entries of two-year-old heifers, not having
had a calf, and the Committee have awarded the first pre-
mium of $3,00, and the second premium of $2,00, to Mr.
Henry Boyles, of Princeton.

All of which is respectfully submitted, in behalf of the
Committee.

GEORGE KENDALL, Chairman.

YEARLING HEIFERS AND HEIFER CALVES.

Committee. — G. F. Bailey, Fitcliburg, — Nathan B. Reed, Princeton.

Edward Bacon, Jr., Westminster, — Charles Flagg, Sterling, — Walter
"Whitney, Ashburnham.

The Committee on Yearling Heifers and Heifer Calves,
have attended to the duty assigned them, and Report as
follows :

14

For the best yearling heifer, $3,00, to Anan Stockwell, of
South Royal ston.

For the second best yearling heifer, $2,00, to Anan Stock-
well, of South Royalston.

For the best heifer calf, more than four months old, $2.50,
to Joel Page, of Fitchburg.

For the Second best, $2,00, to Abel F. Adams, of Fitch-
burg.

For the third best, to Samuel Haws, of Fitchburg, $1,50.

For the Fourth best, to Samuel M. Dole, of Fitchburg,

$1,00

G. F. BAILEY, Chairman.

BULLS AND BULL CALVES.

Committee. — Ohio Whitney, Jr., Ashburnham, — Sewell Kichardson,
Leominster, — Josiah Page, Westminster, — Daniel S. Eaton, Fitchburg, —
Ephraim Turner, Phillipston.

The Committe on Bulls and Bull Calves, having attended
to the duties of their appointment, respectfully submit the
following Report :

As this subject is not an inspiring one in an essay, I am
fearful that bulls might too frequently occur; therefore, I will
confine myself entirely to statistics, and attempt no further
remarks.

Eighteen fine animals were examined, and after a careful
examination, the Committee award the premiums as follows :

For the best bull more than two years old,
To John A. Rice, of Princeton, for his Durham bull,
weighing 1785 lbs. three years old, the first pre-
mium of $5 00
To Nathan B. Reed, of Princeton, for his Devon bull,

three years old, the second premium of 3 00

15

To Samuel Farwell, 2d, of Fitchburg, for his bull, of
Ayreshire and Durham breed, weighing 1325 lbs.
three years old, the third premium of 2 00

For the best bull one year old and less than two.

To Abel F. Adams, of Fitchburg, for his bull, three
fourths Native, one fourth Durham, weighing
920 lbs. 18 months old, the first premium of 5 00

To John C. Miller, of Westminster, for his bull, three
eigths Durham, and other bloods, weighing 735
lbs. thirteen months old, the second premium of 3 00

To J. A. Marshall, of Fitchburg, for his bull, one
half Durham and one half Ayreshire, weighing
785 lbs, seventeen months old, the third pre-
mium of 2 00
For the best bull calf, more than four months old.

To Edson Clark, of South Royalston, for his Durham
bull calf, six months old, weighing 550 lbs. the
first premium of 3 00

To Anan Stockwell, of South Royalston, for his bull
calf, nine months old, one half Durham, one-half
Ayreshire, the second premium of 2 00

To Nathan Whitney, of Westminster, for his bull
calf, three-fourths Durham, one-fourth Native,
seven months old, weighing 592 lbs. the third
premium of 1 00

For the Committee,

OHIO WHITNEY, Jr. Chairman.

STEERS AND STEER CALVES.

Committee. — E. G. Lucas, Fitchburg, — Ward Russell, Ashburnham, —
Joseph Wbitcomb, East Princeton,— Josiah Sheldon, Fitchburg,— Merrick
Whitney, Ashburnham.

The Committee on Steers and Steer Calves, beg leave,
most respectfully, to submit their Report :

16

An unusually large number were offered for the examin-
ation of your Committee, with the exception of steer
calves, of which there were but two pairs offered.

The Committee make the following awards on two-year-
old steers.

Aaron Jones, South Royalston, first prize, $3 00

Henry Boyles, Princeton, second prize, 2 50

Rufus Hastings, Sterling, third prize, 2 00

On one-year-old Steers.
Josiah Page, Westminster, first prize, 3 00

Israel Everett, Princeton, second prize, 2 00

Nathan B. Reed, Princeton, third prize, 1 00

On Steer Calves.
A. Stockwell, of Royalston, third prize, 2 00

The Committee think great credit due Mr. Nathan B.
Reed, for the docility and submissiveness of the one-year-
old steers, for which they have awarded him the third prize.
It is proper to state that one pair of very fine two-year-
old steers were offered, not for premium, but for exhibition,
by Mr. J. T. Everett, of Princeton.
All of which is respectfully submitted.

E. G. LUCAS, Chairman.

SWINE.

MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS OLD.

Committee. — Alvah Crocker, Fitcliburg, — Leonard Burrage, Leomin-
ster,— John Davis, Asliby, — Joseph M. Stewart, East Princeton, — Orange
Cowee, Westminster.

The Committee on Swine, Report:

That they are much gratified at the deep interest evinced
in Worcester North, in the animals of which they are the

17

chosen arbiters. At no time since the commencement of
Agricultural Shows in Fitchburg, has there been such an
array of porkers, or the task so difficult, to assign to each
their relative worth and merit, regard being had to keeping.
On fat hogs, particularly, they regret that they had not more
premiums to award, so extremely difficult has it been to de-
cide between them.

The number of entries are, to wit:
Joseph Upton, Jr., Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Joseph Pierce, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
George Marshall, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Simon Marshall, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Levi Kendall, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Benjamin SarTord, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Enoch Caldwell, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
Jonas A. Marshall, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
William Carter, Fitchburg, one fat hog.
J. T. Everett, Princeton, one breeding sow.
John P. Sabin, Fitchburg, one sow and pigs.
Elliot Wood, Fitchburg, one sow and pigs.
David Battles, Fitchburg, one sow and pigs.
Warren A. Crehore, Fitchburg, one breeding sow.

They award to Jaquith & Mclntire, for the best boar,

more than one year old, (sixteen months,) $4 00

To J. P. Sabin, for the best boar less than one year

old, (six months 27 days,) 2 00

To Enoch Caldwell, for the best fat hog, more than

eight months old, (fifteen months,) 4 00

To Jonas A. Marshall, for the second best fat hog,

more than eight months old, (fifteen months,) 3 00

To Joseph Peirce, for the third best fat hog, more than

eight months old. (fourteen months,) 2 00

They award to Elliot Wood, for the best breeding sow,

[sow one year, ten pigs, ten days old,] 3 00

3

18

To J. P. Sabin, for his second best breeding sow, [sow

three years, ten pigs, seven weeks old,] 2 00

To Warren A. Crehore, for his third best breeding sow,

[sow two and a half years old,] 1 00

The Committee are deeply impressed with profound grat-
itude at the high honor which has been so spontaneously,
and without solicitation on their part, conferred upon them.
They boldly assert, herein their place, that they have sat in
judgement upon one of the most useful classes of animals in
the whole catalogue. What else affords such agreeable,
such wholesome food — is preserved by salt and smoke so
easily in all climates, — is procured and reared with so little
expense, and when fairly packed in the family pork barrel,
sends such a spirit of independence to every member thereof?
Let old winter come in all its frigidity — old boreas blow
his creaking blast, till not a single autumnal leaf shivers
to the breeze ; the happy bipeds who gather around the cheer-
ful fireside of " sweet home," from parents to four-year-
olds, can sit at the family fireplace, (would that we had more
of them,) and complacently look at back-log and fore-stick, —
hear the joyful serenade of snapping, during the longest win-
ter eve, — raising their thoughts, their emotions, their gratitude
to that Source from whence all our blessings flow, — which
always adds dignity and elevation to humanity; — for, why?
there are layers enough, still left in the barrel, of this nutri-
tious food, till spring time and harvest.

What a subject to contemplate ! What a theme to dilate
upon ! ! How on earth your Committee ever arrived at the
exalted position in which they find themselves, is totally
beyond their comprehension. As Old Santa Anna said, he
left General Taylor at Buena Vista, terrified, so are they ;
at any rate, almost so.

It is true that a single humble member of this Committee,
found himself the past winter, and very unexpectedly too,

19

lithographed as pointing at one of the same elevated family
of hogs as the glorious subjects of this report. This gentle-
man Berkshire, was most valiantly penetrating the side of
old Hoosac, on his way homeward, indicating to us bipeds,
in his own mute, peculiar way, and by the force of his
own illustrious example, what he would do with the only
known obstacle between the Atlantic and the Pacific, by
which the Old World could pass through our own New Eng-
land, and as the star of empire pursues its westward course.

Your Committee would not at this time or place, question
the beautiful symetry of the lithographic emblem alluded
to. The hog is a gentleman, whose energetic and deter-
mined will, compares favorably with effeminate bipeds of
the present day. No Corporation, Western or Eastern, or
fleshy body scares him; he surveys and stands his ground
manfully; he never skims the surface, but penetrates to the
root, or bottom of every thing, as he was evidently doing in
the case recurred to ; and it would have been a subject of
regret, that the body or physiognomy of the noble animal
had so far penetrated the sides of the mountain that the
aforesaid member could not describe his characteristics,
had not the novelty of the spectacle seemed to stupify him,
as he stood, as has been said, pointing, with wonder and
astonishment at the sublime display before him.

But how have the other four members attained to their
present conspicuous position, even if the appointing power
saw the famous lithograph in question ? In the joy of our
hearts we cannot tell ; and are compelled to dismiss this en-
quiry with a full determination to wear our blushing honors
with becoming humility.

So much talent has already been employed in elaborating
the qualities of the hog, in Worcester County, and in de-
fence of his attributes, that it would be worse than super-
fluity, even if we had the time, to consider him in such
light, especially, as we are about producing gas enough in
Fitchburg without trying; and the Committee will now indi-

20

cate what they deem the essential characteristics of a good
hog. He should not be too long — full in the head and
cheek, short neck, good round carcass and full quarters.
Formerly, the Berkshire breed was preferred, but now it is
believed that a cross with the small Chinese breed is the
most profitable, they being susceptible of considerable weight,
with comparative light feeding, while the cross has produced
a more mild disposition in the animal.

Your Committee deem it their duty, to urge upon every
family that has a small patch or garden, to rear their own
pork. The public have but a vague, imperfect idea of the
large sums of money which might be saved by substituting
hogs for dogs. In the expense it will be less, while by a
little care and economy, by the saving the wash or swill —
the weeds of the garden, and surplus vegetables, adding a
little corn meal at the end, they may eat their own pork,
in lieu of eating as they do, many times, the rattlesnake,
beechnut pork of the west. Our native born citizens, may
well take a useful hint from our Celtish brethren, with their
clean, well washed pigs, well secured pig stys, and potato
patches to feed them.

To the farmer, they would say, build warm, comfortable
hog houses, which shall shelter this abused animal from
our keen wintry winds, and he will pay you for it in addi-
tional pork. Commence to breed largely from the most ap-
proved stock, upon a large scale. The little grunters will
always sell to profit. Instead of fatting four or five hogs a
year, you can about as well fat forty or fifty, and let us
have the pleasing, the profitable reflection, here in Webster
County, that let others do what they will, here we save our
own bacon.

For the Committee,

A. CROCKER, Chairman.

21
SWINE.

LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS OLD.

Committee— Stephen Shepley, Moses M. Gage, Fitchburg,— Enoch
Whitmore, Ashburnham, — Luke Wellington, John Hayward, Ashby.

The Committee on Swine less than eight months old,
Report :

That in attending to the duties assigned them, they found
a very large and excellent stock in the Exhibition. How-
ever pleasing this profusion in numbers, and excellence in
quality and condition might be, under other circumstances,
here it served only to perplex and annoy. Where all was
good, it seemed difficult to select the best. It was regretted
that there was not money enough to give all premiums,
and save your Committee the anxiety and fear incident on
making so important decisions. In the opinion of your
Committee, the pigs were all good in their way, and if they
do not meet with any unforeseen aceidents, will one day
make very respectable hogs. (This they add to the report,
by way of encouragement to those who do not get money.)
After carefully considering the respective ages, weights,
form, shape, breed, &c. of the animals presented, your Com-
mittee have concluded to award the premiums as follows :

For the best fat pig less than eight months old, the first
premium of three dollars, to George Marshall, of Fitch-
burg, who exhibited a pig seven and one-half months
old, which weighed 378 lbs.

For the second best pig, the second premium of two dollars,
to S. A. Wheeler, of Fitchburg, for a pig of six months
old, and weighing over 300 lbs.

For the third best pig, of the same class, the third premium
of one dollar, to Joseph Burr, of Ashby, five months
old, weighing 260 lbs.

For the best lot of pigs, not less than four in number, the
first premium of two dollars, to S. M. Caswell, of Fitch-
burg.

22

The second premium of one dollar and fifty cents, to James

Pierce, of Westminster, for four pigs.
The third premium of one dollar to B. F. Proctor, of Fitch-
burg, for the same number of excellent pigs.
For the Committee,

STEPHEN SHEPLEY, Chairman.

SHEEP.

Committee. — Joel Merriam, Jr., Westminster, — Wm. Woodbury, Fitch-
lurg, — Geo. P. Clark, Princeton, — Merrick Willard, Joseph W. Wilker,
Asliburnham.

The Committee on Sheep, have attended to their duty,
and beg leave to Report :

The first premium we divide, and award one dollar to George
Miles, of Westmintser, and one dollar to A. B. Damon,
of Fitchburg.
The second premium to Edward Bacon, Jr. of West-
minster, for two cosset sheep, $1 50
To Timothy Brown, of Westminster, for two cosset

sheep, 1 00

Which is duly submitted.

JOEL MERRIAM, Jr. Chairman.

FOWLS.

Committee.— C. H. B. Snow, Fitchburg, — Joseph Burr, Asliby, —
Benj. Snow, Jr., Fitchburg,— Mark Wilder, East Princeton, — Levi Downe,
Fitchburg.

Your Committee on Poultry, beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing Report :

23

The show of fowls this year was not so large and complete
as could have been desired. There has been an evident re-
action after the excitement which was so unusual a year or
two since, upon the subject of the various breeds of poultry.
There was one variety of chickens, the Bolton Greys, dis-
played. In the department of ducks, there was but one lot
exhibited ; and in the department of geese, there was no rep-
resentation. We are sorry to see a diminished interest in
this valuable department of the farm.

The agricultural census has proved that the raising of
poultry ranks high in value as a branch of rural economy,
and it is generally acknowledged, that in proportion to the
capital invested, the poultry yard, if properly managed, will
contribute its full quota to the aggregate profits of the
farm.

The premiums have been awarded as follows :

For the six best dung-hill fowls, to Daniel Works, of Fitch-
burg, a premium of $1 50

For the six second best dung-hill fowls, to Asa P. Cow-
den, of Fitchburg, 1 00

For the six third best dung-hill fowls, to B. F. Proc-
tor, of Fitchburg, 50

For the six best turkies, the first premium to J. E.

Teel, of Winchendon, 1 50

For the six second best turkies, the second premium,
to Charles K. Sawyer and Alvin M. Sawyer, of
Fitchburg, 1 00

For the six third best turkies the third premium to

Benj. Safford, of Fitchburg, 50

For the six best ducks to Simon Marshall, of Fitchburg, 1 00

All of which is respectfully submitted,

C. H. B. SNOW, Chairman.

24
FRUIT.

Committee. — Joseph W. Mansur, Fitchburg, — Israel Longley, Shirley,
— T. R. Boutelle, Alfred Hitchcock, Moses G. Lyon, Edwin Upton, Fitch-
burg, — Wm. H. Brown, East Princeton.

The Committee on Fruit congratulate the Association on
the fine display exhibited, and the great improvement which
the few years since the first exhibition have made in the
horticulture and orcharding of our neighborhood. Although,
from the lateness of the season, but few of the earlier fruits
could be presented. The show of apples, pears, quinces, and
the later fruit, was excellent. The Association are much
indebted to John Milton Earle, Esq. of Worcester, for his un-
rivalled display of pears, consisting of seventy-one varieties,
which was in itself an exhibition worthy the diligent study
of all cultivators of this delicious fruit. The Committee re-
gret that by the rules of the Association, they have no power
to bestow any more substantial reward, than their thanks,
for this fine addition to our festival.

The main feature of the exhibition, excepting the speci-
mens of Mr. Earle, were the apples ; and the collection
was large and highly gratifying, both from the variety
and the excellence of the respective samples. And the Com-
mittee, after a few of the first and most marked selections,
were much embarrassed in deciding on the merits of particu-
lar offerings.

The show of pears also, from our vicinity, was most cred-
itable, and our quinces and grapes were in excellent condi-
tion.

It would be grateful to the Committee, to enumerate and
refer in terms of praise to many of the specimens to which
they were unable to award premiums without increasing their
list beyond the just bounds of selection, but which were
most highly creditable to the cultivators, and will we trust,
return a rich reward.

The Committee have awarded the following premiums :
Fist premium to Benj. Snow Jr., Fitchburg, $3 00

25

Second premium to L. H. Bradford, Esq. Fitchburg, 2 50
Third premium to Gen. Moses Wood, Fitchburg, 2 00

Fourth premuim to Dr. J. A. Marshall, Fitchburg, I 50
Fifth premium to Moses M. Gage, Fitchburg, 1 00

To Mr. J. T. Everett, of Princeton, for the largest

variety of apples, forty-three kinds. 2 00

To Col. Ivers Phillips, for the next largest variety,

thirty-three kinds, 1 50

To Messrs. Abel Kenney, of Fitchburg, J. A. Haywood, of
Ashby, Sewell Richardson, of Leominster, Charles
Flagg, of Sterling, J. Fessenden, of Westminster, and
H. P. Messenger, of Fitchburg, for choice specimens,

fifty cents each.

On Pears.

First premium to John Upton, of Fitchburg, $2 00

Second premium to J. T. Everett, of Princeton, 1 50

Third premium to Loriston Stockwell, of Fitchburg, 1 00

Fourth premium to Benjamin SafTord, of Fitchburg, 50
And a like premium of fifty cents to Mr. Norman
Stone of Fitchburg, for a fine variety of Van Mons.
On Peaches.

First premium to Mr. J. Baldwin, of Fitchburg, 1 50

Second premium to Dr. P. S. Snow, of Fitchburg, 1 00

Third premium to Dr. T. R. Boutelle, of Fitchburg, 75
Fourth premium to Dea. Enoch Caldwell, of Fitchburg, 50

On Quinces.

First premium to Jacob Haskell, of Fitchburg, *" 1 50

Second premium to J. L. Haynes, of Fitchburg, 1 00

Third premium to Ezra Kendall, of Sterling, 50

On Plums.

First premium to Dr. P. S. Snow, of Fitchburg, 1 00

Second premium to Rev. J. Jennings, of Fitchburg, 75

Third premium to Col. Ivers Phillips, of Fitchburg, 50

Grapes.

First premium to Cyrus Thurston, of Fitchburg, 1 00
4

26

Second premium to H. A. Willis, of Fitchburg, 75

Third premium to Dea. E. Caldwell, of Fitchburg, 50

To Messrs. James Peirce, of Westminster, and Henry

Brewer, of Fitchburg, 25

On Cranberries.
First premium to Mr. T. Brown, of Westminster, 1 00

Second premium to B. F. Andrews, of Fitchburg, 25

Among the curiosities of the Exhibition, the Committee
noticed a plate of full grown cherries, in good condition,
picked from a tree in his garden, on the day of the Exhibi-
tion, by Mr. Elliot Wood, of Fitchburg.
All of which is respectfully submitted,

J. W. MANSUR, Chairman.

VEGETABLES.

Committee. — Nathan Upham, David Boutelle, Levi Kendall, Norman
Stone, Fitchburg, — Jonas Patch, Ashby.

The Committee on Vegetables, in attending to the duties
assigned them, beg leave to express their united satisfaction,
at the great variety, and excellent display of vegetables,
offered for the consideration of your Committee.

And they submit the following, as the result of their de-
liberations :

There was submitted for their consideration, 65 varieties,
and 112 samples of what your Committe consider as com-
ing strictly under the denomination of vegetables; and they
award the premiums of the Society as follows :
To Mr. James Peirce, Westminster, seedling pota-
toes, three years from the ball, a very superior
sample, $ 75

To A. F. Andrews, a very fine specimen of Green

Mountain white potatoes, 50

27

To David Battles, a very good sample of round red

potatoes, 37

To Charles Flagg, of Sterling, for seven varieties of
potatoes, one of which was of the celebrated Car-
ter potato, 75
To J. Marshall, for seven varieties of potatoes, viz.
pink eye, round red, white, early white, Barber,
Carter, &c. 75
To George Miles, Westminster, one basket peach blow

potatoes, 25

To Ezra Kendall, two varieties of potatoes, 25

To Cyrus Thurston, a very good sample of Carter

potatoes, 25

To Nathan Caswell, for potatoes, 25

To David Lowe, for potatoes, 25

To Mr. Nathan Whitney, Westminster, one sample

of sweet potatoes, 37

To Edwin S. Burnap, one sample of sweet potatoes
planted the twenty-third of May, showing the
practicability of the culture in this climate, 37

To Jabez Fisher, for the best specimen of crookneck

squashes, 50

To James L. Haynes, second best crookneck squashes, 37
To J. A. Marshall, third best crookneck squashes, 25

To Mrs. John Kendall, fourth best crookneck squashes, 25
To S. A. Ruggles, custard squashes, 25

To N. F. Ackley, custard squashes, 25

To J. A. Marshall, for a large and full sample of

Valparaiso and butter squashes, 60

To Elias Lane, Ashburnham, one squash weighing

sixty lbs. 37

To Joshua T. Everett, Princeton, for butter and mar-
row squashes, 50
To J. L. Haynes, for butter squashes, .t 25
To Abel Marshall, for marrow and pea beans, 50
To Benj. SafTord, for pea beans, 25

28

To L. II. Bradford, for green lima, and three other

varieties of garden beans, 25
To Natt Cowdin, for a large collection of water-
melons, 37
To Francis Pratt, one large watermelon, 25
To James P. Putnam, four watermelons, 25
To Ivers Phillips, for watermelons, 25
To Calvin M. Woodward, for a specimen of citron
melons, from a lot of ninety-five, weighing 665
lbs. grown on one square rod, 50
To Milton Frost, for citron melons, 25
To Cyrus Thurston, for citron melons, 25
To Alvah Crocker, for large ripe pumpkins, 25
To S. A. Wheeler, for large ripe pumpkins, 25
To J. T. Everett, for large ripe pumpkins, 25
To Daniel Lowe, for sugar beets, 25
To Ivers Phillips, for sugar beets, 25
To Benjamin SafFord, for sugar beets, 25
To A. Raymond, Westminster, for sugar beets, 25
To Milton Frost, for large orange carrots, 25
To Benj. SafFord, for large orange carrots, 12
To Milton Frost, for blood beets, 25
To Abel Marshall, for turnip beets, 25
To Levi Kendall, for turnip beets, 25
To A. Raymond, Westminster, for turnip beets, 25
To Benj. SafFord, for a good specimen of onions, 37
To Lawrin Pratt, for one basket of onions, 25
To N. S. Boutelle, for large red onions, 12
To Milton Frost, for varieties of tomatoes, 25
To Benj. SafFord, for white flat English turnips, 25

Boquets.

To Mrs. John Kendall, 50

To Mrs. Joseph Baldwin, 50

To Mrs. Francis Perkins, 50

To Mrs. Otis Hill, Gardner, 37

29

To Miss Emma M. Willis, 25

To Miss Lizzie Kenney, 12

To Mrs. Asa Partridge, 12

The Committee would here state, that there were several
specimens of vegetables, on exhibition, which would have
been entitled to prerfliums, had the contributors been mem-
bers of the Society.

For the Committee,

NATHAN UPHAM, Chairman.

MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURED ARTICLES.

Committee. — T. K. Ware. Fitchburg, — Ephriam Murdock, Jr., Win-

chendon, — Asher Green, Jonas A. Marshall, Moses Wood, Fitchburg

Hobart Spencer, Ashby, — S. S. Farrar, Royalston.

Your Committee met with some embarrasment in the com-
mencement of the discharge of their duties, on rinding that
a large number of articles of female workmanship, particu-
larly needlework, were subjected (o their criticism and judg-
ment. After parleying son. time with their neighbors, the
Committee on fancy and useful articles, composed in part
of ladies, and endeavoring to induce them to take that class
of manufactures under their charge; and after a feeble effort
to prevail on that Committee, to lend us one or two of their
female members, a proposition which was received by them
with the utmost derision, your Committee were forced to
make the best judgment they were able in the premises •
with regret, however, that articles of such eminent merit as
a great part of those thus passed upon by them displayed,
should not have been submitted to abler critics.

From the limited extent to which your Committee were
authorized to go in the distribution of premiums, and the
large number of articles of merit that it came within their

30

province to pass upon, a great deal of difficulty and per-
plexity was experienced by them in judging between speci-
mens of a similar kind of manufacture. As. for instance,
in the case of the two specimens of harness making, exhib-
ited by Mr. Fessenden and by Mr. Frost, although the final
decision was unanimous, yet no member of the Committee
could decide without a long and close examination, to which
the preference should be given ; and they feel it their duty
to say, that in their opinion, either of the specimens would
stand well in comparison with the best work of the kind in
the State.

Your Committee would be doing injustice to themselves,
if they failed to notice favorably many articles, from which,
in consequence of the limited amount entrusted to them to
distribute, they were compelled to withhold the premiums.

Prominent among these, were two woven counterpanes,
tempting enough, in their warm and comfortable appearance,
almost to draw one to the luxuries of his couch, on this in-
clement day ; a rag rug, by Mrs. W. J. Wheeler, and one by
Mrs.M. E.White, both of admirable workmanship ; a rag rug,
by Mrs. Jonathan Sampson, aged sixty years, which would
put to shame the fingers of many of our young ladies of
twenty ; a rag carpet, by Mrs. Goodhue, an excellent piece
t of workmanship ; a very ingenious contrivance by Mr. John
Fessenden, for working butter, which we recommend to the
notice of those who have dairies to superintend ; some ex-
cellent specimens of teeth selting, by Dr. C. H. Whitney, —
and last, and least in size, but not in ingenious contrivance,
two miniature steam engines and tenders, exhibited by Mas-
ter Gideon Sibley, aged fifteen years, and Master W. A.
Parker, aged twelve years, which seemed almost ready to
run without steam.

Several articles, too, were submitted to the Committee, for
their approval or condemnation, which were not entitled to
prizes, not having been manufactured by members of the
Association. Among these were a plough of beautiful make

31

and finish, from the manufactory of Messrs. Prouty & Mears,
placed for exhibition by Mr. Joseph Pierce, which would
seem too handsome an implement to put to the earth, were it
not that it seemed evident to good judges, that it would do
its work in much less time and with less labor than any or-
dinary plough ; also a beautiful and splendidly finished
plough and yoke, from the manufactory of Ruggles, Nourse,
Mason & Co. of which it is sufficient to say, that the Com-
mittee were glad to be relieved from the necessity of decid-
ing between it and the former ; and other very handsome
implements of husbandry, all exhibited by Mr. Waldo Wal-
lace.

Of the following list of articles, it does not seem to the
Committee necessary to say anything further than is implied
in the verdict of our judgment, contained in the prizes
which we have allotted to them.

Isaac Hartwell, for one soap stone sink and two mar-
ble urns, and marble vase and roller, $1 00

Drs. Palmer & Brown, for best specimens of mineral

teeth and setting, 1 00

Messrs. Forbush & Pierce, Westminster, one dozen

calf skins, 1 00

Messrs. Whitney & Russell, four and a half dozen

morocco skins, 1 00
Charlotte Marshall, aged thirteen years, caning to

three chairs, 34
Laura Marshall, aged eleven years, caning to three

chairs, 33
Harriet Marshall, aged ten years, caning to three

chairs, 33

William Woodbury, one dozen wire seives, 50

S. G, Frost, harness work, first premium, 2 50

Charles Fessenden, harness work, second premium, 2 00

Charles Fessenden, two wagons, 2 00

32

H. W. Catlin, three barrels of flour, 5 00
John B. Proctor, specimens of superior indian and

rye meal, 1 00
S. W. Ruggles, rotary blower, churn, cheese press,

and hinge to sofa bedstead, original invention, 1 00
Messrs. Henry & Willard, one birch and one hair

mattress, 50

J. C. Moulton, daguerotypes, first premium, 2 00

F. W. Haskins, daguerotypes, second premium, 1 00

J. M. Moore, specimens of gilding, and fancy box, 2 00

J. L. Tenney, two pairs of boots, 50
Mrs. Hannah Litch, aged seventy-five years, one piece

of carpeting, 50

Mrs. A. Eliza Mills, one cheneille mat, 50

Mrs. Esther Woodward, one rag rug, 25
Mrs. Howard Gates, Ashby, twenty-six yards home

made cloth for flannel shirts, 50
Mrs. E. Kenney, white counterpane, spun, wrought,

wove by hand, 50
Mrs. Mary Upton, one rag mat, 25
Mrs. Abigail Cutter, aged seventy, one rag mat, 25
Mrs. M. L. Holden, one silk patch-work quilt, 50
Mrs. John Whitcomb, seventy-eight years, four patch-
work quilts, made in one year, 1 00
Fanny E. Upton, aged four years, one patch-work

bed quilt, 25

Catherine Nash, one bed quilt, 25

Mrs. Grace Wood, aged sixty-eight, one bed quilt, 25

Mrs. Melinda Ward, two blankets, 50

Ann M. Smith, one rag carpet, 50
For the Committee,

T. K. WARE, Chairman.

33

FANCY ARTICLES.

Committee.— Jabez Fisher, C. J. Billings, L. H. Bradford, John Upton,
Fttchburg, — Mrs. C. Wilder, Mrs. Artemas R. Smith, Mrs. E. Torrey,
Mrs. Stephen Shepley, Filchburg.

The Committee on Fancy Articles, have attended to the
duty assigned to them, and herewith present their Report :

In examining articles of this description, as must be well
known from the very nature of the case, a Committee can-
not avail themselves of all the agencies that may be em-
ployed in judging of the merits of those of a different char-
acter. They are to be governed in a great measure, in de-
termining upon the comparative merits of the productions of
the various competitors, by that same kind of taste which
was exercised and displayed by them in preparing the goods
for exhibition.

It is an old saying, the truth of which we see exemplified
before us every day, that " tastes differ." For instance,
two men of equal means set about building, each for him-
self, a residence. The one constucts an upright, square, com-
pact house, with every thing about it symetrical. The oth-
er arranges his in such a manner that no two sides are equal,
and the whole shows a studied irregularity of form. The
one lays out his grounds in squares, parallelograms, circles,
and other geometrical figures, while the other carefully avoids
everything of the sort. None of his lines are straight, cir-
cular, or of any regular form, but he studiously endeavors
to give to everything what he calls an air of naturalness.
The one might have studied geometry in his younger days,
while the other, perhaps, exercised himself in landscape
drawing from nature. Be that as it may, the tastes of the
two certainly differ, and notwithstanding this disagreement
of opinion, each would have his admirers, who would stand
ready to condemn the taste of the other; while really, each,
perhaps, would be in equally good taste, and equally worthy
of imitation.
5

34

Again, two young batchelors, having arrived at the con-
clusion to add one rib to their stature, set about seeking,
each for himself, just such a one as shall best answer this
important end. It is more often the case, however, that the
choice is made first, and the arithmetic follows as a natural
consequence. The one chooses the beauty of the town, the
village belle, while the other is content with a very plain
sort of person, whom the first would have passed without
notice. The remark by the lookers on, at once is, that
" tastes differ, and there is no accounting for them." It is
an exceedingly fortunate circumstance, that this remark is
true in the above relation, for the mind would be unable to
conceive, or find language to describe and portray the con-
sequences to the world, which would arise from an opposite
condition of things.

Fancy, or taste, which in this connexion, is to be defined
as a love for the beautiful in nature and art, is an inborn
faculty; but at the same time it depends almost entirely
upon cultivation or education for its growth and maturity.
The moment that we begin the study of any science, or the
practice of any art, each succeeding day unfolds to our
view new beauties, and new wonders, and we then first
learn to appreciate, as beautiful, those things which before
we looked upon with indifference, or even contempt.

Every human being, at all elevated above the brute crea-
tion, by his mental organization, desires and seeks happiness.
Some in one way, and some in another. But no one can
realize it, in any elevated sense, otherwise than by the culti-
vation of those higher faculties with which he was endowed
by nature ; without bringing out and developing those pow-
ers of mind, the possession of which, so preeminently distin-
guishes man from all the rest of animated nature.

One of these faculties, in the exercise of which there is no
thorn concealed beneath the flower, nor bitter mingled with
the sweet, is that of love for, and admiration of, the beauti-
ful. This is a gift which shows its workings even in the

35

little child, whose expressions of delight and smiles of pleas-
ure are called forth, simply perhaps, by a piece of tinted
paper. In the older child, pictures from nature and art,
form legitimate objects of its exercise; while the cultivation
of this endowment in the adult, has placed before the world
all those beauties of art with which we are surrounded.
Indeed, life itself would be but barely tolerable, were all the
enjoyment arising from the exercise of this faculty, denied
us ; man would cease to be an image of his Maker.

That there is an increasing interest among our people in
this direction, cannot be denied. Our buildings, both public
and private, show it. Our cemetries, our road-sides, and our
gardens, prove that we are beginning to think of something,
other than dollars and cents. The success of the New Eng-
land School of Design for Women, an institution where fe-
males are taught the use of those faculties, which they pos-
sess, naturally, in a degree far superior to man, goes to sus-
tain the same point. Graduates of this school are employed
at large prices, by the manufacturers of carpetings, prints,
paper hangings, &c., for the sole purpose of originating new
and tasteful designs for these kind of goods. This would
not be done, were it not for the taste among the mass of the-
people, which sustains and demands it.

Many persons, who will display a very fine taste in the
selection of articles of this kind, appear to think that they
themselves are never called upon to exercise this faculty in
their every day life ; not thinking that even the thousand
little things in which they are called upon to act, may be so
managed as to please and gratify those around them, rather
than to offend and displease by an opposite course.

It is the cultivation of this gift, in our ordinary pursuits,
which we should be glad to see more of. Let not the fair
contributors of fancy goods, suppose, that because of their
having done what they have toward rendering the exhibi-
tion of to-day so attractive, they are absolved from the dis-
play of any farther taste for the beautiful : but rather let

36

them remember, that life is made up of these little things,
and that in the exercise of our God-given faculties, we show

in the only true way in which it can be done, that we real-
ize the value of those gifts, and therein render homage to the
Giver.

Your Committee award the following premiums.

Mrs. Haywood, Royalston, wrought quilt, $1 50

Mrs. Benj. Snow, Sen. wrought arm chair, 1 50

Mrs. C. Miles, wrought chair and cricket, 1 00

Mrs. E. G. Lucas, wrought chairs, 50

Mrs. Jesse Harding, wrought chair, 75

Miss Harriet E. Bradford, wrought chair, 50

Mrs. Betsy Meriam, wrought chair cushion, 50

Miss M. L. Daniels, sofa cushion, 25

Mrs. W. M. Barrett, specimens of emhroidered flannel, 1 00

Mrs. M. Hardon, embroidered mantilla, 1 00

Miss R. M. Briggs, wrought handkerchiefs, 1 00

Miss E. A. Willard, wrought handkerchief, 75

Mrs. S. G. Frost, wrought vest pattern, 75

Mrs. S. W: Dole, lamp mat, 50

Miss M. C. Foster, lamp mat, 50

Miss A. J. Wheeler, wrought skirt, 50

Miss E. F. Sheldon, wrought under sleeves, 37

Miss Julia Leahy, two crochet collars, 37

Mrs. E. E. Kimball, wrought bands, 37

Mrs. Horatio Stebbins, crochet collar, 37

Mrs. J. Sawyer, wrought cape, 37

Mrs. J. Story, worsted work, 37

Miss M. R. Garfield, crotchet lamp mats; 37

Miss M. L. Adams, lamp mats, 25

Miss Arvilla Wood, crochet tidy, 25

Miss F. J. Tolman, mittens and socks, 25

Mrs. J. C. Moulton, worsted work, 25

Miss M. D. Tolman, lamp mats, 25

Mrs. Thos. Trees, bonnet, 75

Miss A. E. Clark, wax work and lamp mat, 75

37

Miss L. H. Wood, papier mache table top, 1 25

Miss M. C. Foster, hair wreath, 50

Miss M. C. Greene, open work cotton hose, 37

Mrs. M. E. White, seed bag, 37

Mrs. E. SarTord. hose, 25

Mrs. T. Clark, artificial flowers, 25

Mrs. M. E. Rugg, fancy basket of grapes, 25

Miss D. Boutelle, dressed doll, 25

Miss M. A. Hall, crayon drawings and frames, 1 00

Miss A. Sawyer, crayons, 1 00

Mrs. J. T. Everett, Princeton, crayon, 50

Mrs. Jesse Harding, painting, 50

J. B. Goodrich, crayon, 37

G. W. E. Barnes, cottage, 25
For the Committee,

JABEZ FISHER, Chairman.

BREAD, BUTTER, CHEESE, HONEY & PICKLES.

Committee. — James B. Lane, Leonard Day, Aaron F. Beaman, Fitch-
burg, — Porter Piper, Leominster, — Mrs. N. A. Tufts, Mrs. Moses Wood,
Mrs. I vers Phillips, Mrs. Abel F. Adams, Fitchburg.

On entering upon the duties assigned them, the Commit-
tee needed but a glance to be convinced that a faithful dis-
charge of their responsibility would be a work of no ordi-
nary magnitude. Truly, it was none other than a " feast,"
to which they had been invited, — if not a " feast of reason,"
yet requiring some "reason," and not a little judgment, and
"last and greatest," a very correct, and a very large amount
of taste. We are not disposed to arrogate an extraordinary
degree of reason or judgment, — but as to taste, we will yield
the palm to none. On this point, " we speak what we do

38

know," and would refer any doubters to the u makers of
the feast."

Numerous offers of advice and assistance were very kindly
made by the " outsiders." but we politely informed them,
that we were not authorized to employ counsel ; thereupon,
suggestions and insinuations not so kind, were frequently
volunteered, — such as that we must have adopted for our
motto, " Let us eat, for to-morrow, " &c, — then would
follow the wise man's admonition of " putting a knife to the
throat," &c. &c, — but we boldly affirm, that we allowed
no promptings of envy, or other improper interference,
to disturb our equanimity, or at all prevent the most patie?it,
faithful and thorough discharge of our duty.

In particularizing, we would remark, that the display of
bread was large and superb. Well may our Society be
proud of the matrons and maidens that can furnish such
excellent specimens of bread. "The eye was not satisfied
with seeing," but the taste was satisfied. We think the val-
ue of good bread cannot be over estimated. With it, the
human race can live well without any other food ; without
it, they cannot live well, with all else. If, as is often re-
marked, he is a public benefactor who increaseth the growth
of grass for cattle^ much more is this true of her who maketh
good bread for the service of man. The Tempter, doubtless
thought his requirement of turning a stone into bread, the
most difficult work conceivable, — but to make stones of
what was intended for bread, is an accomplishment by no
means difficult or rare.

The display of butter, also, was large, and highly credit-
able to the contributors. All the specimens were good, and
many of them excellent.

There was also, a fair show of cheese, honey, pickles, &c.
but we have not time to dwell on their particular merits.

In awarding the premiums, we found it rather difficult to
decide satisfactorily with reference to the bread and butter,
of which there were so many specimens, and nearly all
seemed worthy of premiums ; but our taste held out to the

last, and as (to make rather a free translation,) " tastes must
not be disputed," our decisions are unquestionably just and
right.

First premium, wheat bread, Mrs. Edwin Upton,

Fitchburg, 1 00

Second premium, wheat bread, Mrs. Abel Manning,

Fitchburg, 50

Unbolted wheat bread, first premium, Mrs. Howard

Gates, Ashby, 1 00

Rye and indian bread, first premium, Mrs. M. L.

Whitcomb, Fitchburg, 1 00

Rye and indian bread, second premium, Mrs. Lucy

N. Hubbard, 50

Bolted rye bread, first premium, Mrs. Abel F. Adams, 75

(This specimen was made of white rye, an article
decidedly superior to the common rye.)
Bolted rye bread, second premium, Mrs. George Ken-
dall, Ashby, 50
Butter, first premium. Benj. Wallis, Ashby, 3 00

Butter, second premium, Mrs. Ward Russell, Ash-

burnham, , 2 00

Butter, third premium, John A. Rice, Princeton, 1 50

Butter, fourth premium, Charles Flagg, Sterling, 1 00

Cheese, first premium, George Miles, Westminster, 2 00

Cheese, second premium, Luke Wellington, Ashby, 1 50

Honey, premium, Edward F. Downe, Fitchburg, 1 00

Pickles, first premium, Mrs. Artemas F; Andrews, 75

Pickles, second premium, Mrs. Hannah C. Putnam, 50
For the Committee,

JAMES B; LANE, Chairman.

40

ROOT CROPS.

Committee. — Cyrus Thurston, Joseph Smith, N. F. Ackley, Elisha
Garfield, P. S. Snow, FitcKburg.

The Committee on Root Crops, have attended to the duty-
assigned them, and hereby submit the following Report :

Your Committee were somewhat relieved from an embar-
rassment which' sometimes occurs, where there are a large
number of applicants, whose cases require a very close ex-
amination in order to determine to whom the awards right-
fully belong, — there being in this case only three entries for
our consideration. To wit: two lots containing one-eighth
of an acre each, by Isaac B. Woodward ; and one lot con-
taining half an acre and four rods, by Leonard Day, all for
carrots.

Mr. Woodward's statement for lot No. 1, is as follows :

The ground was manured with four loads of green ma-
nure, on the sixth day of May, and ploughed in: It was
ploughed deeper on the seventeenth, and the carrots were
sown on the eighteenth of May, in rows about fifteen inches
apart. They were hoed three times during the summer,
and were dug about the first of November. The amount
grown on an average square rod was 357 5-8 lbs. making
7152 1-2 lbs. or 143 1-20 bushels to the eighth, or 1144 S-20
bushels to the acre.

The same field has been sown with carrots for three years,
and has been manured nearly the same every year.

The cost of cultivation is as follows :

Cost of manure, $4 00

Cost of ploughing twice, 1 00

Cost of raking and sewing, 33

Cost of hoeing three times, ' 3 00

Cost of harvesting, 3 00

Total - $11 33

41

The statement relative to field No. 2, differs from No. 1,
only in the yield, which was 347 lbs. to the square rod, which
is at the rate of 133 4-5 bushels to the eighth, or 1110 bush-
els to the acre.

Mr. Day, says the ground was ploughed in the fall, and
again in the spring ; the ground prepared and the carrots sown
about the last of April ; the amount grown on 84 rods, was
650 bushels.

Cost of cultivation as follows :
Two ploughings, $2 00

Preparing the ground, 1 50

Sowing, 50

Weeding twice, 6 00

Harvesting, 25 00

$40 00
After considering the case of the applicants as above
stated, we have awarded to Leonard Day, the
first premium of $3 00

And to Isaac B. Woodward, the lot No. 1, the second

premium of 2 00

All of which is respectfully submitted,

CYRUS THURSTON, Chairman.

GRAIN.

Committee. — Joseph Upton, Jr., Joel Page, A. F. Adams, I. B. Wood-
ward, Samuel Burnap, Fitcliburg.

The Committee on Grain, have attended to the duty as-
signed them, and respectfully submit the following as their
Report :

To Joel Hay ward, of Ashby, who raised on one acre
of land, 32 1-4 bushels of Italian spring wheat,
of a superior quality, the first premium of $4 00

5

4^

To Edward Smith, of Filchburg, who raised on one
acre of land, about 22 bushels of very good wheat,
weighing 66 lbs. per bushel, the second premi-
um, of ~ 2 00

To George Kendall, of Ashby, who raised on one
acre of land, 31 3-4 bushels of winter rye, of ex-
cellent quality, the first premium of 3 00

To Samuel Farwell, of Fitchburg, and Joshua T.
Everett, of Princeton, who raised on one acre of
land, each a fraction over 27 bushels of good rye,
the second premium of one dollar each. € 00

To Samuel M. Dole, of Fitchburg, who raised a very
nice field of corn, 30 hills to the square rod, the
ears weighing 50 lbs., which, allowing 82 lbs. of
ears to a bushel, would make 97 bushels to the
acre, the first premium of 6 00

To Joel Hayward, of Ashby, whose field had 20 1-3
hills to the square rod, the ears weighing 46 1-2
lbs. to the rod, making 90 bushels to the acre,
the second premium of 4 00

To Daniel Works, of Fitchburg, whose field had 32 1-2
hills to the rod, the ears weighing 44 1-2 lbs.
making 86 bushels per acre, the third premium of 2 00
There were a number of other fields of corn entered, and

your Committee regret that they had no more premiums to

bestow. One field, by George Sampson, of Ashburnham,

25 hills to the square rod, the ears weighing 39 lbs. making

78 bushels to the acre.

One by Isaac B. Woodward, 25 hills to the rod, making 76

bushels to the acre.

Another by Joel Hayward of Ashby, 23 1-2 hills to the

rod, making 74 bushels to the acre.

One by Benj. Wyman, of Westminster, 23 hills to the rod,

the ears weighing 371-2 lbs. making 73 bushels to the acre.

The average product of all the fields of corn entered for

premium, is 82 bushels per acre, and the average cost of

1

Q

manure and labor is about $45 per acre, which gives a good
income for the land, besides leaving it in a much better con-
dition for future crops.
For the Committee,

JOSEPH UPTON, Jr. Chairman.

Joel Hayward's Statement,
Gentlemen, I offer for premium, one acre of Spring Wheat,
on which I raised 32 1-4 bushels. The land was a deep
loam, and was planted to corn last season, to which crop
was applied 33 loads of manure. Last spring, it was
ploughed twice, and sowed April 20th, with two bushels of
Italian spring wheat ; the last of May, we applied 200 lbs.
of plaster ; harvested the fifth and sixth days of August.

Edward Smith's Statement.
The field on which my wheat grew, was planted with
corn last year, with about twenty-five cart loads of manure
to the acre. The expense of the present year's crop, is as
follows :

Splitting the hills, myself and oxen, $1 00

Ploughing one and a half day, 3 00

Sowing and harrowing, 1 50

Harvesting, 2 00

Threshing and winnowing, 3 00

Seed, 2 3-4 bushels. 2 18

$12 68

The above is the expense of 1 1-2 acres.

The field was measured by Mr. Woodward. Mr. Whit-
ney measured the grain when it was threshed, and pro-
nounced it thirty-three bushels. Weight, 66 lbs. per bushel.

George Kendall's Statement.
Cost of getting in and harvesting, &c. one acre of Winter
Rye, on burnt ground, yielding 31 bushels, 14 quarts and
11-2 pints.

44

Cost of getting in, |3 00

Cost of harvesting, 2 50

Cost of threshing, 3 50

$9 00
Ashby, Sept. 24th, 1853.

Statement of Samuel Farwell, 2d.

The ground that this rye grew on, was manured in May,
1852, with a fair coat ; I cannot tell how much to the acre.
I then sowed on this ground barley, and took the crop off in
August, and there has not been any manure put on this
ground since then ; in September, on this same ground, I
sowed about two and a half bushels of rye. The ground
that this rye grew on, measures one and three-fourths acres,
by the measure oL the selectmen.

Expense of labor, &c.
Rye sowed, two and a half bushels, $2 50

Ploughing and harrowing, &c. 3 25

Reaping, binding and teaming, 4 75

Threshing and cleaning the same, 4 75

$15 25

47 1-2 bushels of rye, at 1,00 per bushel, 4.7 50

Straw sold, 4745 lbs. 21 34

Loose straw, 10 hundred, 3 00

71 84
Expense deducted, 15 25

$56 59

Daniel Works' Statement,

The land on which my corn was raised, was part sowed
and part planted last year. Last spring, 20 loads of green
manure and 10 loads of compost, was spread and ploughed

45

in. No manure was put in the hill.

Com hoed but twice.

30 loads of manure,

$30 00

Ploughing,

2 00

Spreading manure,

3 50

Furrowing and planting,

2 83

Hoeing,

7 00

$45 33

Joel Hayward's Statement.
The land on which my corn was raised, was planted with
potatoes, last year. Last spring, 14 loads of green manure
was spread and ploughed in, and 13 loads of compost put
in the hill. The corn was planted May 3d. Corn tuscan
white.

27 loads manure,
Ploughing,

Teaming and spreading manure,
Planting,
Hoeing,

$41 00

27 00

2 00

2 00

4 00

6 00

OFFICERS

OF THE

WORCESTER NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, FOR 1853,

Hon. IVERS PHILLIPS, President.

Hon. NATH'L WOOD, ) Vice
JOSEPH UPTON, Jr. ) Presidents.

Dr. C. W. WILDER, Recording Secretary.

WM. B. TOWNE,* Corresponding Secretary

THOMAS C. CALDWELL, Treasurer.

TRUSTEES.

Hon. MOSES WOOD, FitcUurg.
MOSES M. GAGE, FUchburg.

ABEL F. ADAMS, FitcUurg.

ISAAC B. WOODWARD, Fitchhirg.
NORMAN STONE, FitcUurg.

JOEL PAGE, FitcUurg.

EDWIN UPTON, FitcUurg.

HOWARD GATES, AsUy.

OHIO WHITNEY, Jr. AsUurnham.
Dr. WM. D . PECK, Sterling.

DANIEL MILES, Westminster.

JOSHUA T. EVERETT, Princeton.

* Deceased. Dr. C. W. Wilder, acts as Corresponding Secretary.

REPORTS

or THE

WORCESTER NORTH

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

FOR 1855.

PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES.

FITCHBURG:

PRINTED AT THE FITCHBURG REVEILLE OFFICE.

185 5.

!

REPORTS OE COMMITTEES

FAT CATTLE.

Committee. — Messrs. Ohio Whitney, Jr., Asliburnham ; Samuel Osgood,
Sterling; Francis Buttrick, Fitchburg ; Ephraini Turner, Phillipston ; Na-
than Bryant, Baldwinville ; Wm. W. Watson, Wilkes Roper, Princeton.

The Committee on Fat Cattle find entered for premium the
following Cattle, viz : —

Levi Heywood of Gardner, two fat Oxen, five years old,
Durham Breed, weighing 4,300 pounds.

Nathan Danforth, of Princeton, two fat Oxen, nine years
old, Native Breed, weighing 2.825 pounds.

Elijah C. Farwell, of Fitchburg, two fat Oxen, eight years
old, Native Breed, weighing 3,130 pounds.

Ephraim Murdock, of Winchendon, one fat Cow, 1-2 Dur-
ham 1-2 Native Breed, weighing 1,565 pounds.

J. T. Everett, of Princeton, two fat Cows, one eleven years
old, weighing 1,120 pounds, the other six years old, weighing
1,075 pounds, both Native Breed.

Josiah Page, of Westminster, two fat three years old Steers,
1-2 Durham 1-2 Native Breed, weighing 2,740 pounds.

Daniel Works, of Fitchburg, two fat three years old Steers,
Durham Breed, weighing 2,550 pounds.

, W. W. Watson, of Princeton, two fat three years old Steers,
1-2 Durham 1-2 Native Breed, weighing 2,900 pounds.

Geo. W. Montjoy, of Westminster, two fat three years old
Steers, Devonshire Breed, weighing 2.190 pounds.

Premiums awarded as follows : —
To Levi Heywood, of Gardner, for best fat Ox, five

years old, the first premium of $8 00

To Levi Heywood of Gardner, for second best fat Ox,

five years old, the second premium of 5 00

To Nathaniel Danforth, of Princeton, for the third best

fat Ox, nine years old, the third premium of 3 00

To E. Murdock, of Winchendon, for the best fat Cow,

the first premium of 6 00

To J. T. Everett, of Princeton, for the second best fat

Cow, the second premium of 3 00

To J. T. Everett, of Princeton, for the third best fat

Cow, the third premium of 2 00

To W. W. Watson, of Princeton, for the best fat three

years old Steer, the first premium of 6 00

To Josiah Page, of Westminster, for the second best

fat three years old Steer, the second premium of 4 00

All which is respectfully submitted,

OHIO WHITNEY, JR., Chairman.

BULLS.

Committee. — Messrs. Joshua T. Everett, Princeton ; Thos. Whitney, Shir-
ley ; John M. Stevenson, Sterling; Nathan Danforth Princeton; Levi
Heywood, Gardner ; Joseph Davis, Baldwinville ; Joel Hay ward, Ashby^

The Committee on Bulls report that the whole number, of
all ages, entered for premium is twenty-two, and by the fol-
lowing competitors, viz : —
One three years old Bull, by Heury Boyjes, Princeton.

" Nathan Caswell, Fitchburg.

" Rodney Fuller, Fitchburg. 4

" Sol. F. Towne, Westminster.

" Chas. Nicholson, Leominster.

" - R. G. Chessman, Westminster.

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Two one year " ** " D. Works & others, Fitchburg.
One one '* '•' " " Joel Page, Fitchburg.

" " " " " Daniel Works, Fitchburg.

" " " u " " Benj. Wyman, Westminster.

" " " " " " Joseph Upton, Fitchburg.

One Ball Calf, by Joel Page, Fitchburg.

" " " " Samuel Hay ward, Ashby.

" " " " F. W. Wright, Ashby.

" " " 4 mos. by Nathan Danforth, Princeton.

" " " by Samuel C. Nash, Princeton.

" " " " A. Whitmore, Ashburnham.

4t " " " Moses Sawyer. Sterling.

" two years old, 3-4 Devon, by Ezra Kendall, Sterling.
To accomplish our work with the greatest dispatch and
accuracy we divided our Committee into two bands. The
Chairman, with Messrs. Hayward and Danforth, inspected
the Bulls two years old and upward, and Messrs. Hey wood
of Gardner, Chandler of Shirley, Sawyer of Sterling, and
Stephenson, inspecting those one year old and under. We
regret to be compelled to say that most of the Bulls two years
old and over were rather ordinary and far inferior to the exhi-
bition of the same class of Animals in previous years. At first
inspection we were doubtful whether there were the requisite
number present upon which to bestow the rewards of the
Society. There was one noble exception, however, to the
rather lank show of Bulls of those ages. Henry Boyles, of
Princeton, presented a very fine three years old Bull, weighing
nearly 1,500 pounds, worthy of a Premium in any show in
New England.

The Bulls a year old and under were very good, probably
equal to those of any previous year ; and there are a number
to which no Premiums are awarded, -simply because there
were no more at our disposal, that will make very valuable
Bulls from which to raise stock.

We finally awarded the following Premiums : —
To Henry Boyles, of Princeton, for his fine three

years old Bull, the first Premium of $6 00

To Nathan Caswell, of Fitchburg, for a two years old

Bull, the first premium of 4 00

To S. F. Town, of Westminster, for a two years old

Bull, the second premium of 2 00

To Benjamin Wyman, of Westminster, for his yearling

Devon. Bull, the first premium of 5 00

To T. Whitney, of Shirley, for his Alderney yearling

Bull, the second premium of 3 00

To Joel Page, of Fitchburg, for his Durham yearling

Bull, the third premium of 2 00

To F. W. Wright, of Ashby, for his Bull Calf, the

first premium of 4 00

To Moses Sawyer, 2d., of Sterling, for his Native Bull

Calf, the second premium of 3 00

To Nathan Danforth, of Princeton, for 1-2 Durham

and 1-2 Ayershire Bull Calf, 1-2 of the third prem. 1 00
To Samuel C. Nash, of Princeton, for his Devon. Bull

Calf, 1-2 of the third premium, 1 00

Before closing our report, we wish to make a few sugges-
tions in relation to this most important animal in the whole
range of neat stock.

We suppose all will admit that he who rears a valuable Bull
does much more to improve the stock of his neighborhood,
and the whole community, than the farmer who raises a first
class heifer, or even five or ten heifers ; for good Bulls, on an
average, even in New England, where stock raising is carried
on to a limited extent, as compared with the Middle States
and the great West, sire from one to two or three and some
as high as four or five hundred, even, during the period in
which they are kept for cows. Whereas cows, on an average,
do not drop more than from four to six calves before they are
fattened and slaughtered ; so that if a farmer rears a cow and
keeps her till she is eight or ten years old, rearing each year
her calf, that proves to be very inferior, the community does
not suffer a tenth of the injury that is sustained in every case
when a worthless Bull is kept for cows, in a stock raising

community, for one single year. Yet many farmers will as
soon put a cow to a poor, worthless Bull, as to a good blooded
and valuable one ; even though they design to raise the calf.
Your Committee are of opinion that hundreds of dollars loss,
at least, are sustained Svery year in most towns in this com-
munity where this custom is practised.

We are aware that many farmers have an inveterate predju-
dice against some of the best stock in the country, simply
because it is imported or blooded stock, and choose to raise
calves sired by Bulls that have been raised haphazard without
any reference to size, symmetry of form, blood, or quality of
cow from which it came. If the only object is to bring the
cow to milk annually and kill the calf for veal at six weeks
old, we would rather put a cow to a thorough bred, short
horned Durham, or Ayershire Bull, and pay a dollar for his
use to every cow, than to go for nothing to a thin, lank, coarse
animal, that only possesses the power to impress on his get
his own ugliness and deformity ; for the calf will be worth
from one to two dollars more for the shambles when ready to
kill.

Many farmers will ridicule the most valuable information
and important statistics, if written in a book, and continue to
drive their cows to a twenty-five cent Bull, because of his
suicidical predjudice against imported stock. Forgetting that
nearly all our imported Bulls were reared by practical, as well
as scientific farmers of England, who possess skill in produc-
ing neat stock, as far superior to their own egotistical, unciv-
ilized conception of it ; as our best stock of Worcester Co.
excels the wild, uncultivated herds, that roam the forests of
South America.

In England's best farming districts, the produce of neat stock
is considered a science as well as a practice, and so perfectly
understood is it, that their best farmers can, with almost math-
ematical certainty, predict what will be the progeny of the
cross of any given bloods of sire and dam, in its form, size of
bone, general muscular development, tendency, to fatten, com-

parative expense of keeping, disposition, &e.5 and yet our old
fogies and mushroon farmers will laugh at the most critical
observations, and the most extensive experience of the wisest
of men, because they happen to be imported.

The best blooded Bulls imported from England present to
us their beautiful and perfectly symmetrical forms, as the
grand result of a system of stock raising by the most scientific
breeding, practised by the wisest men in this vocation, of any
now living. We do not hesitate to say that many of the
English farmers have a more perfect knowledge of breeding
neat stock, than any living men, or men that ever have lived.
And yet many would-be farmers of our own community sneer
at the mere mention of "imported or blooded stock." As
well might the little urchin, of live years, who builds his tin
water wheel under a fall of six inches, of the size of a pipe
stem, sneer at the discovery by Fulton, of the application of
steam to the navigation of ships ; or the young man of twenty
who is just entering a law office, call in question the legal
decisions of a Story or a Marshall.

We have many good stock raisers in this County that have
made many leagues of progress from the old haphazard mode
of raising neat stock, of fifty years ago, but still we are far
behind the best stock growers of England. But if our ego-
tism and national pride does not prevent our taking lessons of
those that are wiser than ourselves ; we may hope eventually,
by patient progress, to arrive at as great a degree of perfection
in producing cows for the dairy, or beef for market, as the
best English farmers.

We would suggest also, as all neat stock is reared for the
dairy and for beef that it is desirable to obtain both objects
in the same animal.

Every man therefore who designs to raise a Bull, should
not only regard the size, shape and blood, of his calf, but none
should be raised, however promising in these respects, that is
dropped from a cow of ordinary or inferior milking qualities.
The Bull imparts to the female of his progeny just as much

of her butter or cheese making qualities, as the dam that
drops it.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

JOSHUA T. EVERETT, Chairman.

MILCH COWS AND MILCH HEIFERS.

Committee. — Messrs. Ephraim Murdock, Winchendon ; Charles Fla^g,
Sterling ; George Chandler, Shirley ; John Roper, Geo. O. Skinner, Prince-
ton ; Joseph W. Forbush, Westminster ; Abel Fox Adams, A. Crocker,
Fitchburg.

A most important inquiry at the present time, to the owners
of Milch Cows, is, what breed, or cross of breeds, is best
adapted to the production of milk, quality, as well as quantity
being regarded. It is not the true end and scope of this or
any other Agricultural Society to pick up for premiums one
animal from a dairy of some half-dozen, who, fortuitously,
may turn out to be a good milker, while the other five, per-
haps, are bad or indifferent ones, shrimped, camel-backed, and
ugly, of every size and color, without pedigree ; selected, or
reared without brains or science, upon the doctrine of con-
tingency or luck.

Nor could it have b^en the object of our Commonwealth in
its liberal grants to our various County organizations, so far
as such grants are appropriated to the stock growers, that the
money should be given to the lucky holder of any chance
animal ; but to the systematic, intelligent grazier, who aims
at excellence and perfection in the stock he produces ; and
who, like Farmer Washington, of blessed memory, carefully
registers the breed, keep, characteristics and qualities of his
stock, either for the dairy, the plough, or the shambles. Who,
for instance, when he offers Milch Cows for premium, has an
exact account of the profits of each kind and breed, booked
and footed up, not of those, only annually registered for pre-
miums, but his whole stock, from year to year, so that by
2

10

comparison our citizens may be constantly adding to their
stock of knowledge ; how to produce the most and best for
the least money ? It should never be forgotten or lost sight
of, that mammon, himself, reigns in this utilitaiian age, hold-
ing his throne with an iron grasp ; and what " won't pay," as
the phrase is, is disreputable. A man now is judged by what
he produces or performs, and takes his grade in society, par-
tially at least, by his character and quality.

Recurring again to our first enquiry, as to what breed, or
cross of breeds, is most desirable to the intelligent grazier, we
confess our want of material. The lack of systematic experi-
ence renders it impossible, as yet, to give a satisfactory solu-
tion ; though many additional facts may be gathered from
year to year. In our limited enquiries we find some who still
go for the real, true blue native American Cow, scouting the
four footed, more even than the biped, foreigner. They tell
you that this passion for unacclimated Durhams, Ayrshires
and Alderneys, will end like the Hen-fever, in real Shanghai
disgust. To such we have only to say, go at it with a will,
if you can whip imported blood with native, by all means do
it, but we tell you, in all frankness, you cannot do it by herd-
ing your best cows with a miserable, shrivelled Bull who con-
fessedly impresses himself as much, some say most, upon the
young calning. The best, and only the best, of both sexes,
should be selected for propagation. You are contending now
with breeds from the Mother Country, where improvement of
blood has been a study, a science, the last two centuries.

When the various imported breeds have been sufficiently
tested, whether by a cross with our natives, or per se, there
can be no question but important and beneficial results must
accrue to this branch of husbandry, and our warm ackowl-
edgments are due to those liberal minded men, who disregarding
the expense, have imported the best blooded cows and stock.
Your Committee believe that a cross of our best natives
with blood cattle has thus far resulted in most important bene-
fits ; and while they are constrained to admit that in Worcester

11

North the Ayrshire cross has been most fortunate in obtaining
premiums, they still believe as at present advised, that in the
country at large, and especially in New York, the Durham
cross* has been most successful, not only for the plow and
beef-barrel, but also for milk.

Before adverting to the premiums, your Committee would,
suggest to those who may enter cows hereafter at future shows,
a more systematic and detailed account, of feed given — exact
cost thereof, coupled with a succinct detail of time of milking,
pasturage, amount of root feed, corn fodder, shorts, &c, and

* Concord, Sept. 17, 1855.

Dear. Sir — In a conversation with you the other day upon agricultural
matters, you asked for my opinion as to what foreign blood I considered best
to mingle with our common stock, in order to produce the best milch cows.

I have been a somewhat careful observer of the effects of crossing for many
years, and am satisfied, that both in animals and vegetables, when judiciously
done, it is productive of the most beneficial results. For in this way bad
qualities may be obliterated and good ones introduced in their stead.

The Devons, now so symmetrical as to attract the attention of the most in-
different observer, were once small, angular, and scarcely desirable in any
point of view. The improvement has been equally as great in the Durhams,
as well as in Sheep and Swine. The weight of mutton has more than doubled
in the London market within the last hundred years,

I am satisfied that the largest number of fine milch cows is produced by a
cross of our common stock with the Durham short horn blood. They are
symmetrical, good feeders, gentle, yield a good flow of milk and continue it suf-
ficiently late — for I do not, as a general thing, think it desirable that a cow
should continue to give milk until the time of calving.

With regard to your other question, whether it may be ninde profitable for
the farmer to raise roots to feed to his milch cows, I am not in the least at a
loss for an opinion. I feci eight cows one winter on the best hay and three
quarts of meal each per day. The following winter I fed the the same cows on
hay cut on the same ground, without meal or grain of any kind, but gave
each cow per day half a bushel of roots, carrots, beets, turnips and parsnips,
and obtained just as many again cans of milk, of equal capacity, as I did when
I fed the meal.

I should be glad to write more but have not the leisure at present

Very truly yours, SIMON BROWN.
A. Crocker, Esq., Fitch burg.

P. S. I intended to be at your show, but one in my own County on that
day will call me another way.

12

especially any mode of treatment or feed to cows, believed by
them, to be peculiar to themselves.

The number of entries is nineteen. They were all of a
high order of excellence, exhibiting a marked improvement
above former years.

Your Committee have awarded the following premiums, to
wit : —

For the best Milch Cow, regarding age, quality, and
quantity of'milk. to William W. Watson of Prince-
ton, for his red milch Cow, half Ayrshire, half
Native, six years old, first premium, $6 00

For second best do., to Shepherd F. Atherton of Fitch-
burg, for his Cow, six years old, Native, second
premium, 5 00

For third best ditto, to Ephraim Crocker of Fitchburg,
for his Cow, sixteen years old, Native and Ayr-
shire, third premium, 4 00
For fourth best ditto, to Dea. A. Thurston of Fitch-
burg, for his Cow, ten years old, Native breed,
fourth premium, 3 00
For the best three years old Milch Heifer, to Elliot

Wood of Fitchburg, for his Durham Heifer, 4 00

For the second best ditto, to Abel F. Adams, of Fitch-
burg, for his Heifer, seven-eigths Durham, 3 00
For the third best ditto, to Ivers Phillips of Fitchburg,

for his Heifer, supposed to be native, 2 00

For the best two years old Milch Heifer, to Shepherd
F. Atherton of Fitchburg, for his Heifer, one-
fourth Devon, three-fourths Native, 4 00
For second best ditto, to Benj. S afford of Fitchburg,

for his native Heifer, 3 00

For third best ditto, to Allen B. Wood of Westminster, 2 00
While awarding the above premiums, great unanimity exist-
ed in the minds of your Committee ; it is but an act of justice
to state that the Heifers exhibited by Messrs. Greene, Wood-
ward, Procter, and Sawyer, were all animals having a high
degree oi merit.

13

Our ackowledgments are also due to Messrs. Chas. Nichol-
son of Leominster, and N. F. Ackley of Fitchburg, for the
Cows they exhibited, on which they declined a paemium.
All of which is submitted by

A. CROCKER, Chairman.

Wm. W. Watson's Statement.

My red Milch Cow. six years old, half Ayrshire, half na-
tive, which I offer for premium, dropped her last calf on the
first day of June last. The calf was taken from the Cow at
four days old. The weight of the milk on the first seven days
thereafter was an average of thirty-nine pounds per day, and
made fifteen twelve sixteenths pounds of butter.

On the first seven days in September the weight of her
milk was an average of thirty-nine pounds per day, and made
thirteen and a half pounds of butter. Said Cow was kept in
a herd of twelve and driven a mile to a good pasture, and
since the first of September driven the same distance to good
fall feed. No extra feed, all the keeping has been from said
pasture and said fall feed.

September 18th, 1855.

Shepherd F. Atherton's Statement.

The Cow which I offer for examination is six years old,
supposed to be of native breed, weighs eight hundred and
sixty-five pounds. She dropped her last calf April twenty-
eight, and gave during the first seven days in June two hun-
daed and twelve pounds of milk, an average of thirty and
one-quarter pounds per day, and during the first seven days
in September eighty-seven and one-half pounds.

The two years old heifer weighs eight hundred and ten
pounds, one-fourth Devonshire, three-fourths Native, calved
May ninth. During the first seven days in June she gave
one hundred and fifty pounds of milk, an average of twenty-

14

two pounds per day, and during the first seven days in Sept-
ember, eighty seven pounds.

The milk of these two animals in June yielded ninety-
seven and one half pounds of butter, the family using two
quarts of milk daily.

Ephraim Orockkr's Statement.

The milch "Cow which J offer is sixteen years old, supposed

to be partly Ayrshire, calved Aug. 24. Her milk during the
first week in September weighed as follows, viz.:

MORNING. NOON. NIGHT.

lbs. oz. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. lbs. oz.

Sept. 2. Sunday, 21 3 13 3 11 1 45 7

3. Monday, 20 7 14 3 10 7 45 1

4. Tuesday, 20 3 14 7 12 15 47 9

5. Wednesday, 20 7 15 8 14 3 50 2

6. Thursday, 20 11 12 7 9 11 42 13

7. Friday, 19 15 12 11 12 11 45 5

8. Saturday, 20 15 14 7 11 00 46 6

Total, 322 11

Average per day forty-six pounds. Her milk for the first
fourteen days of September yielded twenty-two pounds, two
ounces, of butter.

A. Thurston's Statement.

September, 19th, 1855.
1 have owned the Cow which I have entered for premium,
nearly three years. I suppose her to be of the native breed
.and some ten years old. She calved the eighth of May last,
calf took the milk until June eigth. From June eighth to
June fourteenth the milk averaged thirty-two and one-half
pounds per day, the first seven days in September the average
weight was twenty-two pounds per day ; cow was kept in an
interval pasture (the " T Little Flat/' so called.) which was

15

closely fed. In the month of June she was fed with two
quarts of fine feed each day, and from the middle of August
with green fodder.

Respectfully submitted,

ABEL THURSTON.

The Committee on two years old Heifers, not in milk,
consisted of Messrs. Wm. Bucminster of Framingham, Marshal
White of Westminster, Levi Kendall and Isaac B. Woodward
of Fitchburg, Emory Davidson of Sterling, Charles H. Wright
of Ashby, Isaac Hagar of Westminster.

The Chairman being absent, the Committee proceeded to
their duties without him, and ask leave to submit the follow-
ing report.

The number of animals entered for premium was nineteen.
Sixteen were in the pens and examined by your Committee,
and they would here state that they regret exceedingly the
small amount of premiums offered for such description of stock
as two years old Heifers intended to be kept for the dairy.
They were unanimous in recommending that more premiums
should be offered next year.
They award to Abel F. Adams, of Fitchburg, for his

native Heifer, the first premium of 4 00

To Silas Hale, Esq., of Royalston, for his Durham

heifer, the second premium of 3 00

To Henry Boyles, Esq., of Princeton, for his heifer,

half Devon, half Native, the third premium of 2 00

All of which is respectfully submitted,

ISAAC B. WOODWARD,

For the Committee.

Elliot Wood's Statement.
I bought this three years old Durham Heifer, which I offer
for premium, on the third of May last, a few days before she
had dropped her first calf. Her keeping until the last of June

16

was cut feed, with three quarts, daily, of fine feed. The
average weight of milk was twenty-nine pounds per day. In
the month of July I turned her out to pasture, when she had
nothing but grass. During the first two weeks of September
the average weight of her milk per day, was twenty-five lbs.
Her milk yielded seven and one-half pounds of butter per
week, in June.

Signed by ELLIOT WOOD.

Sept. 19th, 1855.

Abel F. Adams's Statement.
The three years old Heifer which I offer for your inspection,
calved the twenty-third of March last. The first seven days
in June she gave one hundred fifty-three and one quarter
pounds of milk, a fraction less than twenty-two pounds daily.
She had neither hay nor meal, and the feed was poor for the
season. The first seven days in September she gave one
hundred eighteen and one-half pounds of milk, a fraction less
than seventeen pounds daily. She went with my other cows
and had corn fodder night and morning.

Yours, ABEL F. ADAMS.

Ivers Phillips' Statement.

The Heifer of mixed breed which I offer for premium was
bought in the Spring of 1854 among others for fatting. She
was a small and inferior looking animal. In the autumn of
the same year she was brought up for slaughter, but thinking
I discovered marks of a good cow, I concluded to keep her.

She dropped her calf early in June 1855, for which the
butcher paid something more than six dollars at five weeks
old. In one week, commencing July 16th, she gave one
hundred fifty-eight and one-half pounds of milk, and from the
cream five and three-fourths pounds of butter were churned.

She is a gentle, good milker, and her milk has held out
during the late drought remarkably well.

IVERS PHILLIPS.

Fitchburg Sept. 19th; 1855,

17
YEARLING HEIFERS AND HEIFER CALVES.

Committee. — Messrs. John Brooks, Princeton ; Daniel Works, Fitchburg ;
Solomon P. Burpee, Princeton ; Paul Gates, Ashby ; George Kendall, Ster-
ling ; Josiah Page, Westminster ; Chedorlaomer Marshall, Fitchburg.

Your Committee on Yearling Heifers and Heifer Calves, in

the absence of their Chairman, having attended to their duties,

award the following premiums, viz : —

For the best yearling heifer, to Silas Hale, of So. Roy-

alston, the first premium of $3 00

For the second best yearling heifer, to Ephraim Crock-
er, of Fitchburg, the second premium of 2 00

For the third best yearling heifer, to Levi Smith, of

Ashby, the third premium of 1 00

For the best heifer calf, to Samuel Hayward, of Ash-
by, the first premium of 4 00

For the second best heifer calf, to Enoch Whitmore,

of Ashburnham, the second premium of 3 00

For the third best heifer calf, to A. F. Adams, of Fitch-
burg, the third premium of 2 00

For the fourth best heifer calf, to W. W. Watson, of

Princeton, the fourth premium of 1 00

All which is submitted,

GEORGE KENDALL,

For Committee.

WORKING OXEN.

Committee.— Messrs. Edwin Upton, Fitchburg ; Moses Sawyer, 2d, Ster-
ling; Josiah Sheldon, Fitchburg; Gamaliel S. Beaman, Princeton; John
Minott, Westminster ; Joseph P. Heywood, Sterling.

The Committee on Working Oxen having attended to their
duty submit the following report : —

There were twenty-four pairs entered for drawing, but did
not all appear ; seventeen pans only were present, the most of
which did their work in a manner creditable both to driver
3

18

and cattle, there was in some cases, however, in the opinion
of your Committee-, too free use of the whip ; some even com-
mencing the use of it before telling them what was wanted ;
your Committee would hope at the next trial that there
may be an improvement in this respect.

The premiums awarded are as follows, viz : —
To George H. Briggs, of Harvard, a minor, for his pair
of five years old cattle, weighing 2,500 pounds,
the first premium of $6 0Q

To Samuel Shattuck, of Fitchburg, for his pair of five
years old cattle, weighing 3,085 pounds, the sec-
ond premium of 5 00
To Henry Boyles, of Princeton, for his pair of four
years old cattle, weighing 2,750 pounds, the third
premium of 4 0Q
To Solomon F. Towne, of Westminster, for his pair of
five years old cattle, weighing 2,525 pounds, the
fourth premium of 3 00
All of which is respectfully submitted by

EDWIN UPTON, Chairman.

STEERS AND STEEP, CALVES.

Committee. — Messrs. John Brooks, Jr., Princeton ; Levi Smith, Ashby ;
Asa Raymond, Westminster; James Mclntire, Samuel Shattuck, Fitchburg;
Charles B. Fitch, Sterling.

Your Committee having attended to their duty,, report to
you as follows : —

There were three pairs of three years old steers entered for
premiums, viz : —

One pair by Josiah Page, of Westminster, weighing
2,740 pounds, a nice pair and well worthy the first
premium, which was awarded, $4 00

One pair by Isreal Everett, of Princeton, weight 2,170

pounds, the second premium of 3 00

19

One pair by Daniel S. Eaton, of Fitchburg, weight

2, 140 pounds, the third premium of 2 00

Of two years old there were seven pairs entered.
One pair by Samuel Nash, of Princeton, weighing 2,135

pounds, to which was awarded the first premium 3 00
One pair by Samuel Shattuck, of Fitchburg, weight
1,930 pounds, (black ; well matched,) second
premium 2 50

One pair by W. W. Watson, of Princeton, weight 2,040

pounds, third premium of 2 00

Those to which we have not awarded premiums were good,
Mr. Burr's in particular ; two pairs offered by Pierce & Wood-
ward were not weighed ; the pair offered by Mr. Eaton, your
-Committee thought, were not well matched.

Of yearlings there were five pairs entered, viz : —
One pair by W. W. Watson, of Princeton, weighing
1,500 pounds, to which we award the first pre-
mium of 3 00
One pair by Thomas Billings, of Lunenburg, weight

1,300 pounds, the second premium of 2 00

One pair by Samuel Nash, of Princeton, weight 1,080

pounds, (very well matched,) the third premium of 1 00
One pair by Charles Nicholson, of Leominster, not weighed.
" " " Josiah Page, not on the ground.
Of calves four pair entered, viz: —
One pair by Henry Boyles, of Princeton, first premium

of 5 00

One pair by J. G. Woodward, of Ashburnham, the

second premium of 3 00

One pair by Mendell G. Everett, of Princeton, the third

premium of 2 00

Those entered by Solomon F. Towne, of Westminster,
were not on the ground, so therefore, there was none to take
the fourth premium.

All of which is respectfully submitted by your Committee,
JOHN BROOKS, JR., Chairman.

20

HORSES.

COMMITTEE. — Messrs. Alfred Hitchcock, Fitchburg ; Silas Hale, Royal-
ston ; Levi Burr, Ashby ; Franklin Wyman, Westminster ; John K. Going,
Shirley ; Timothy S. Wilson, Win. W. Comee, Fitchburg.

There were seventeen Horses entered for premium, and
about the same number for exhibition. Of the latter class, a
large and very valuable stud, owned by Levi Smith, of Ash-
by. (which had once received the highest premium,) attracted
the attention arid admiration of the Committee. Of horses
for all work, which were entered for exhibition only, the
Committee specially admired the horses owned by John Hol-
lis, Shepherd F. Atherton, and Dr. A. Hitchcock. The
Committee regret that on this class of horses, and also on
fast trotters, no premiums were ottered by the Society. The
following premiums were awarded : —
For the best stud horse, to Samuel M. Dole, of Fitch-
burg, $7 00
For the best draught horse, to Walter Whitney, of

Fitchburg, 5 00

For the second best draught horse, to S. P. Burpee,

of Princeton, 3 00

For the best breeding mare, to Levi Smith of Asliby, 5 00
For the second best breeding mare, to Charles Nichol-
son, of Leominster, '5 00
And the Committee unanimously recommend a gratuity of
two dollars to Samuel Hay ward, of Ashby, for an excellent
draught horse. A. HITCHCOCK, Chairman.
Fitchburg, Sept. 19. 1855.

COLTS.

COMMITTEE. — Messrs. Samuel P. Gibson, Ashby ; Shepherd F. Atherton,
Leonard Day, Fitchburg; Orange G. Cowee, Westminster ; Newell Marble,
Ashburnham ; Charles Nicholson, Leominster.

Your Committee on Colts have attended to the duties as-
signed them; and respectfully submit the following report: —

21

The whole number of Colts, entered for premiums being
twenty-seven, as may well be supposed the labor of examin-
ing so great a number of animals, and some of them very fine
ones, and truly distinguishing the difference between them
was no very light task ; they have endeavored, however, to
perform their duties ; and have awarded
For the best three years old colt, to Charles Nichol-
son, of Leominster, the first premium of $1 00
For the second best ditto, to John W. Piper, of Ashby,

the second premium, 3 00

For the best two years old colt, to Newell Marble, of

Ashburnham, the first premium of 4 00

For the second best ditto, to Ohio Whitney, Jr., of

Ashburnham, the second premium, 3 00

For the best one year old colt, to Allen B. Wood, of

Westminster, first premium of 3 00

For the second best ditto, to William G. Hapgocd, of

Ashby, the second premium, 2 00

For the best colt from three to six months old, to

Charles Nicholson, of Leominster, first premium, 3 00
For the second best ditto, to Thomas Upton, of Fitch-
burg, the second premium, 2 00
All which is respectfully submitted by

S. P. GIBSON, Chairman.

SWINE,

EIGHT MONTHS OLD AND OVER.

Committee. — Messrs. E. Foster Bailey, Fitchburg; Benjamin Wallis,
Ashby; Elliot Wood, Fitchburg; Antipas Mavnard, Ashburnham; Harlow
Skinner, Sewall G. Mirick, Princeton ; Ahijah \V. Benjamin, Westminster.

Twelve fat hogs and two breeding sows were offered for
premium. No boars were exhibited.

The Committee have awarded the following premiums : —
To Samuel M. Dole, for the best fat hog; si ()u

22

To Abel F. Adams, for the second best fat hog, 3 00

" " " " M third best " " 2 00

" Natt Cowdin, for the best breeding sow, 3 00

" Allen B. Wood, for the 2d best " " 2 00

Your Committee were sorry to see no boars present, (we
don't mean human bores,) for however excellent may be our
breeding sows, we don't understand how the race of hogs is
to be perpetuated and improved without the male element.

Your Committee also observe that all the entries, save one,
were made from the town of Fitchburg. Now we think that
this ought not so to be ; we see not why our sister towns
should not do something by way of contributing to this de-
partment, at these shows.

Perhaps no animal better illustrates the "law of progress,"
in the success which has attended the efforts of man to improve
and develope him, than the hog. Whatever might have been
the degree of perfection which he possessed as an article of
food, in that early period when he first became a denizen of
this globe, long before there was a man to test his edible qual-
ities, in our estimate of what education and training have done
for him, we must take him as he existed, a wild barbarian in
the forests of the old world — a creature of great size and pro-
digious strength, of long limbs and great fleetness — competing
with the horse in speed, and defending himself successfully,
even against the attacks of the lion. But his flesh, we must
presume to be of a very inferior quality, although the head of
the wild boar was esteemed a famous dish at the tables of the
barons. From this condition man has reclaimed him, and by
good feeding, gentle training, and a judicious system of breed-
ing, has succeeded in bringing him up to the high standard of
perfection, to which he has attained in our day.

But notwithstanding the hog is a creature of such excellent
physical attainments, and has also in our day established for
himself, by numerous examples, a character for intelligence and
aptitude in learning, inasmuch as he has succeeded in master-
ing his alphabet, in playing cards, and outrivaling even the dog

23

in searching for game, and in performing the other evolutions,
as to back and stand, equal to the most accomplished pointer,
besides many other sagacious feats ; and although the revela-
tions of history and science introduce him to us as a descend-
ant of most ancient ancestry, living cotemporaneously with the
extinct Mastodons and Elephants, and belonging by classifi-
cation to the intelligent group of animals called the Pachyder-
mata, he has nevertheless, from time immemorial, been the
object of a most unjust and inveterate prejudice. The Egyp-
tians and the Jews fulminated against him their legal thunder,
branded him as unclean, and pronounced his flesh unfit to be
eaten. The Mohamedans, following in the wake of the same
peculiar sentiments, thundered forth their anathamas against
pork.

But while the ancient clefamers of the hog's good name
have been stripped of their glory and power — while Egypt
has been reduced to a mere grave yard of her ancient renown,
and the ruins of her former glory have become her national
tomb-stones — while the Jews have been scattered and peeled,
and become the subjects of an inveterate prejudice, such as
their fathers fastened upon the unoffending swine — while clouds
and darkness have settled around the home of the Mussulman
— the hog has perserveringly rooted on, in the line of his
humble vocation, and Providence, as a reward for the patient
fidelity with which he pursues his daily round of duties, has
gradually been rooting from the hearts of men the prejudice
that has so long existed against him. He has — unlike his
ancient defamers — steadily pursued the highway of progress ;
kept pace with the advance of civilization ; and has gradually
developed his physical attributes, until he has become the most
important of all the domestic animals, a favorite with the most
enlightened nations of the earth.

In this he strikingly illustrates the truth, which is sometimes
biought to our notice in other departments of the divine econ-
omy, that modest merit though obscure in its position, and
called to struggle against the withering breath of slander and

24

the thick foggy vapors of a " fogie " conservatism, is neverthe-
less, destined "by patient continuance in well doing," to
overcome all adverse circumstances, and emerging into the
light of a better day, cause its own worth to be acknowledged
and appreciated.

The lite of the hog, though not allowed to be strictly a
poetic one, yet is not entirely devoid of some points of inter-
est, and but for our ancient prejudices might furnish analogies
and types, for the pen of the poet, the theologian, and the
philosopher. Studied with this view, he might be found to
produce metaphorical illustrations of the popular law of pro-
gress, the abstruse doctrine of discreet degrees, and the modern
dogma of manifest destiny ; besides furnishing a glowing type
of that passive character that is sometimes met with at the
present day.

The hog confines himself — with the proper humility of one
who knows his place — to the exact sphere that nature has
marked out for him, and filling up rapidly the full measure of
his pig-hood, he pursues with fidelity the one single object of
his existence, viz : to eat, get fat, and be eaten in return.
Living a life marked with the virtues of contentment and
gratitude, he at last passes to the high and noble destiny, of
entering into that close and intimate relationship to humanity,
which, by the subtle alchemy of assimilation he is made to
become a part and parcel of man's very structure ; in short, of
passing from the condition of a hog, to that of a man.

E. F. BAILEY, Chairman.

SWINE,

LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS OLD.

Committee. — Messrs. Gilinan Jones, Ashburnliam ; Israel Everett, Prince-
ton ; Merrick Whitney, ./Jshbumfiam ; John W. Piper, Ashby ; Wm. S.
Do\vne, Thos. S. Eaton, FUchburg ; lieuben Vose, Jr., Baldwinville.

The Committee on Swine less than eight months old, hav-
ing attended to their duty, report that one very fine fat pig

25

three-fourths Suffolk, was entered for premium by Enoch
Whitmore, Esq., of Ashburnham, and received the admiration
of the Committee. We could not not say that it was the
best, as there was no other one with which to compare it.
The Committee with entire unanimity award him a premium
of two dollars. Of weaned pigs, two entries of one pig
each were made. One by James Pierce, of Westminster,
3 months 19 days old, and one by Levi Kendall, of Fitch-
burg, 2 mos. 25 days old. We award to Mr. Pierce the first
premium of $2 00, and to Mr. Kendall, the second premium
of $1 50. Agreeably to the suggestions of the Honorable
Secretary, your Committee made all the inquiries in their pow-
er in regard to the care and keeping of the animals presented
them.

In the fine specimen of Col. Whitmore, no extraordinary
pains were taken, but the animal seemed to thrive, as is usual
with this breed, where others would have been ordinary. —
The other specimens were fed from the refuse of the dairy,
and one of them attained its title to premium mostly by a feed
of sweet apples with a little bran and a few oats.

We could not learn that either tobacco or alchohol had been
resorted to for improving the neatness or thrift of these tender
specimens of the farmers stock.

The pigs were neat and very well behaved, and we congrat-
ulate the Worcester North Agricultural Society on such a fine
addition to the exhibition, only regretting there were so few
specimens offered, and we do hope in all the appropriate qual-
ifications of thrift, neatness, manners, and gratification of the
appetite, that the young gentlemen and ladies of Worcester
North will not suffer themselves to be outdone by the swine
less than eight months old.

Respectfully submitted for the Committee,

OILMAN JONES, Chairman.

Fitchburg, Sept. 19th, 1855.
4

26

SHEEP.

Committee. — Messrs. Joel Merriam, Jr., Westminster ; Artemas F. An-
drews, Fitchburg ; David Lawrence, Ashby ; Joseph Whitcomb, Princeton ;
Seth Heywood, Gardner.

Thirty-five sheep, of very good quality, were exhibited.
We regret very much that we have so few premiums to
award, and Ave recommend to the Society to increase and en-
large the premiums on this important branch of stock, they
being only half as large as those on poultry, and not one
eighth as much as those on swine. We award
To Lorriston Stock well, of Fitchburg, for the best

cosset buck, the first premium, $2 00

To Mendall G. Everett, of Princeton, for his cosset

sheep, the second premium, 1 50

To Horace P. Messenger, of Fitchburg, for his cosset

sheep, the third premium, 1 00

We also recommend a gratuity of $1 00, to Silas Hale, of
Royalston, for his fifteen sheep ; to Luke Wellington of Ash-
by. for his two cossets, 75 cents ; and to Nathan Danforth, of
Princeton, for his two cossets, 50 cents.
Submitted by

JOEL MERRIAM. Jr., for the Committee.

POULTRY.

COMMITTEE.— Messrs. Wm. G. Wyman, Fitchburg ; Jonas Patch, Ashby ;
John Fessenden, Westminster; Thomas T. Greenwood, Templeton; John F.
Ware, Fitchburg.

The show of poultry this year was unusually scanty, afford-
ing abundant proof of the decline of interest, in this vicinity
at least, in this department of farm business, a decline your
Committee are very sorry to notice, believing as they most
fully do, that a careful attention, to a reasonable extent, to the
raising and care of poultry, by our farmers generally, would
not only add to the convenience, comfort, happiness and health

27

of our community, but would also prove a source of actual
profit.

The demand for poultry and eggs in our market is constantly
and rapidly increasing, so that, at all seasons, those articles
command, here, a ready sale and good prices.

In order to insure success with fowls, care should be exer-
cised in the selection of varieties, as it costs but litte more, if
any, to keep a variety which grows fast, fats quick, and atfords
the most tender, sweet and delicious flesh, than another which
is its opposite in all these respects, or a variety which affords
a constant and abundant supply of eggs of the first quality,
than another which lays but rarely and eggs of an inferior
quality at that. Your Committee recommend a selection of
our best native fowls, crossed slightly with those imported
varieties which afford the best flesh, if intended for the table,
or with such as are noted for constant laying, if to obtain eggs
be the object, as with the Bolton Grays. We also recommend
the game fowl crossed with some larger variety.

Shelter should be afforded, which should be cool in sum-
mer, warm in winter, dry at all seasons, well ventilated, and
carefully protected from exposure to the winds.

Care should also be exercised in the matter of food, which
should afford variety, and particularly in winter should contain
some portion of animal matter. For the principal article, we
recommend indian corn, or dough made of indian meal, of the
yellow varieties only.

One other item, of which your Committee feel constrained
to speak, in this connection, is the droppings of fowls, which,
if saved with care, afford a most valuable fertilizer, and if ta-
ken properly into the account, add materially to the profits of
the business. Call the article thus saved dirty, if you please,
it is of such a character, that, though it be the verriest filth,
yet if properly prepared and sprinkled over your fields, through
your orchards, in your graperies, nature purifies, transforms,
and after a season, returns it to you in the golden sheaves of
life-sustaining grain, the fragrant fruitage, and the purple
clusters of the vine.

28

Your Committee, from observation, as weil as from several
experiments actually tried by themselves, are unanimous in
the opinion that the article in question is fully equal in value,
pound for pound, to the best Peruvian Guano. We grant it
may not be quite so rich in ammonia as that made from birds
fed mostly on fish, but believe it possesses other qualities in a
greater degree, which render it more durable in the soil, and
less liable to injure seeds and plants by burning, &c, and
which, therefore, fully offset the deficiency in ammonia.

Your Committee have waited long for written statements
from some of our members who have been experimenting with
fowls the present season, but have thus far received only one,
and even that one we are not permitted to enter entire. We
therefore quote from it, and also from some verbal statements
made to us.

A prominent member of our Society has kept from Janua-
ry 1st to July 1st, 100 fowls, 10 roosters, and an average
number of 90 laying hens. He has obtained in that time 408
dozen of eggs, worth 20 cents per dozen, or $81 60. He
estimates the value of manure saved $10 00 ; dropped in
the field, $8 00 $99 60

The sole feed has been yellow com, 46 bush., cost 52 90

In August the lot was sold at about 14 cents per pound,
and a new lot bought for about half what the old brought.
He estimates the expense of keeping from July to January at
$30, value of Eggs $25, of manure saved and dropped $14,
thus the cost of keeping for the year, is in corn $82 90, the
product in eggs $106 60, in manure $32, total $138 60,
profit $55 70. He estimates the difference between the
amount realized for the old lot and the cost of the new, togeth-
er with the benefit to his orchard by their destroying bugs,
&c, to equal the rent of the poultry house and the care of the
fowls. He gives his fowls a large range in a young orchard.
It will be seen that the latter part of the estimate must be
guess work, "judging of the future by the past."

Another member stated that he " keeps 8 hens, black span-

29

ish, which afford more profit, in proportion to the expense,
than anything else on his farm, as they produce usually about
four dozen eggs per week, and get their own living through
the summer season."

Another, living in the village, keeps two hens, a cross be-
tween the Bolton gray and the common varieties, which have
actually laid one dozen eggs per week for several successive
weeks.

The Committee on poultry have awarded the following
premiums : —
To J. Wilbur Smith, for the best 6 fowls, the first

premium of $2 00

To Samuel Shattuck, for the second best 6 fowls, the

second premium of 1 00

To Benjamin Wheeler, for the third best 6 fowls, the

third premium of ,50

To I. B. Woodward, for the best 6 turkeys, the first

premium of 2 00

To Charles B. Fitch, of Sterling, for the second best

6 turkeys, the second premium of 1 00

To D. S. Eaton, for the third best 6 turkeys, the third

premium of ,50

For the Committee,

W. G. WYMAN, Chairman.

FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

Committee. — Messrs. Jabez Fisher, Fitchburg ; Porter Piper, Leominster ;
Israel Longley, Shirley ; Cyrus Thurston, Norman Stone, Joseph Baldwin,
Fitchburg; Wm. K. Brown, Westminster.

It cannot be otherwise than a source of peculiar gratifica-
tion to every lover of fine fruit, — and who is not ? — to wit-
ness the annually increasing display presented at our autum-
nal exhibitions. The increase in quantity and variety of spec-
miens of the more valuable fruits, affords substantial evidence

30

of that " good time coming," when Pomona's best produc-
tions, instead of being luxuries accessible only to the few,
will be produced in such quantities, and furnished at such
ratps, as to place them within the reach of the whole commu-
nity as articles of common use. A glance at the nursery bus-
iness affords additional evidence of the same thing. It has
been estimated by one well qualified to judge, that the sales
of trees throughout our Union, amounts in value to upwards
of a million of dollars annually ; and the amount increases
with every season. Nurseries have been drained of every
thing worth cultivation, and very much of that which was
worthless. So great, indeed, has been and still is the mania
for tree planting, that well informed persons have expressed
fears that the whole matter of raising fruit with the view of
profit, would be "11114 into the ground." That fruit would
become so common, that the markets would be glutted, and
that as a speculation in the hands of the producer, it would
prove an entire failure.

Let us consider for a moment how the case stands at
the present time. Are we really in danger of becoming sur-
feited with an overabundance of good fruit ? Has our expe-
rience during the past few years been such as to justify this
conclusion? We think not. So far from the market being
oversupplied, there are very many people who have never
even tasted of some of our finest varieties of fruits. They
are not as yet produced in sufficient quantities to get into the
markets at all. This is true of even our staple fruit, the ap-
ple. When we think for a moment that the Baldwin, an ap-
ple of which there is probably nearly as many raised in this
region as of all other marketable apples together, never wants
for purchasers in the years of its greatest abundance ; that it
always commands very high prices in the Spring, in common
with all late keeping apples, and that the constantly increas-
ing demand for many kinds of Winter apples, more especi-
ally sweet apples for shipping, is one which will for a long
time prevent the price of such fruit from reaching a point

m

below which it would cease to be e remunerative, it certainly
does not appear that the orchardist need to entertain fears
that he is wasting his time or money in planting and culti-
vating such trees. Then again, to glance at the pear, a fruit
raised with much more difficulty than the apple it is true,
and correspondingly more valuable. With the exception of
some few of the inferior varieties, this fruit is almost out of
the reach of the majority of the people. Even the Bartlett,
a pear sustaining a similar relation to others as does the Bald-
win among apples, is by no means to be obtained at other-
wise than luxurious prices, notwithstanding that the demand
for it is very much diminished by the fact that its period of
maturity is shared by the peach, a very formidable rival, both
in its quality and price.

But it may be said that among the millions of trees that
have been set within the last five or ten years, but a small
number have, as yet, produced fruit in any quantity, and that
until the majority of them began to bear fair crops, the effect
upon the market will, of course, be hardly felt. We are not,
however, of that class who indulge fears of this nature. We
are unable to believe that the better qualities of fruits will
ever be purchased, unless as an occasional exception, at prices
which will fail to handsomely remunerate the intelligent pro-
ducer for his outlay and trouble ; and we are strengthened in
this conviction while taking a survey, and learning the history
of a large portion of the trees which have been set within ten
years past.

Trees have often been purchased of an irresponsible nur-
seryman, or perhaps some travelling agent who could tell a
very plausible story of the great value and cheapness of those
which he wished to sell. The varieties of which he had the
greatest stock on hand, were always those that he recommend-
ed as being particularly worthy of cultivation, even if he dif-
fered with all good judges, a fact of which his custom-
ers did not possess information. If the trees were raised
upon a poor soil, he would insist upon it that they were

32

much better for not having been -'forced.' In planting out,
trees have been placed in soil without the least preparation,
in holes just sufficient to receive all the roots, with a little
crowding. The bruised ends of the roots left untrimmed,
and the whole operation, in fact, performed very much as a
fence post would be set, and the tree is too often rivalled in
its growth by the post.

These modes'of treatment, however, we are happy to be-
lieve, are practised less generally than they were a few years
since. Better ideas have begun to prevail among tree plant-
ers. A fruit tree is getting to be considered as having an or-
ganism endowed with life, and governed by similar physio-
logical laws as are other living things. Its wants and neces-
sities are becoming better understood and appreciated, and
we have 'corresponding hope for the future. Bat that this
knowledge is not shared by the whole community, every
day's observation compels us to believe.

When we see a fruit tree of any variety, that has been set
from one to five or ten years, having in that time made but
a comparatively trifling growth of wood, surrounded by a
tough sward, or what is perhaps quite as common, and fully
as detrimental, a thrifty, rank growth of a circle of weeds
and suckers, abstracting from the soil all those nutritive ele-
ments that should have been appropriated by the tree itself,
which latter receives no accession of wood from year to year,
but becomes covered with moss, and bears all the marks of
premature old age, we are forced to the conclusion that the
owner is either ignorant, or grossly negligent. That he is
.either quite unaware of the mode in which the tree obtains
•its limited supply of nourishment from the soil, or that he is
entirely careless of its cultivation, because its crop is not a
marketable one. He does not appreciate the fact that the
thrifty growth of a fruit tree is worth infinitely more for a few
years than its meagre crop of imperfect fruit. The difficulty
is with him as with some corporations which have closed their
construction account prematurely, and are consequently obliged

33

to pay their first dividends in stock : he closes his construc-
tion account the moment the tree is planted, and expects his
dividends without further effort, whereas this account should
certainly not be closed until the tree pays full dividends ©f
fruit j for the small amount of labor and attention annually
required will be most abundantly repaid in the increased quan-
tity and improved quality of the product.

We might estimate in merely an approximate way the value
of the annual growth of a tree something as follows : —

First cost

First

years

growth valued

at

2d

tt

tt

a

<<

3d

tt

tt

a

tt

4th

a

(<

u

a

5th

a

tt

it

n

6th

it

a

tt

tt

7th

a

it

u

it

8th

(<

u

a

u

9th

a

u

tt

it

10th

a

a

it

a

35 cts.

10

20

30

45

60

80

1

10

1

50

2

00

2

60

$10 00
By this estimate, the value of a tree in ten years from set-
ting would amount to $10 00, which for an apple or pear
cannot be considered as too high. Because at this age such
trees well cared for are generally in a condition to produce a
crop, the average annual value of which is sufficient to pay
the interest on a much larger sum, in fact often to ten times
this amount. What more profitable operation then can the
farmer pursue than to bring a portion of his lands into or-
chard. Even if he is a man that looks at the present entire-
ly, the annual increase in value of his farm in consequence
of the accumulation of fruit trees, will always command a
price more than enough to cover the whole expense.

To every man then we say, plant fruit trees, but what is of
more importance, cultivate and care for them with the same
5

34

zeal that you bestow on any other crop, and you will be sure
of a return that will fill your heart with satisfaction and your
purse with something useful.

Apples. In this department, although the specimens as a
whole, were not quite equal to those of last year, yet the dis-
play was a good one and in some respects unequalled by those
of previous years. We hail with much pleasure the introduc-
tion of such varieties as the Graven stein, Minister, Hunt
Russett and some others. There were some very fine speci-
mens of the Northern Spy, grown on scions, 3 years set,
giving fine promise. Much too large a part of our collections
is made up of such apples as the Cathead Sweet and Blue
Pearmain, apples entirely unworthy the attention given to
them, while so many superior varieties may be obtained for
the asking.

Pears. Of this fruit the display of varieties was quite in
advance of last year. We noticed fine specimens of many
that are but little known, but of good promise. For one pear,
the Flemish Beauty appeared to stand first, even before the
Bartlett, which is this year hardly up to its reputation.

Of Peaches the display was quite unexpected. They were
shown from quite a number of sources, and in one instance
five varieties were from one contributor. The Early Craw-
ford, as usual, carries off the first premium.

In the matter of Grapes, the Committee have refused to ac-
knowledge the Isabella as No. 1, and for these reasons: —
When asked which was the preferable grape upon the tables
to be eaten now, it was the unanimous opinion that the Early
Northern Muscadine stood first, and the Early Amber next. —
Both these grapes were ripe, and the first quite so, while the
Isabella was quite immature. In this vicinty the Isabella dees
not attain maturity oftener than once in three or four years,
which fact is sufficient to effectually prevent its cultivation as
a matter of profit. The others, although the berries are more
foxy than the Isabella, especially, in their perfume, are good
growers, perfectly hardy, and the fruit is sure to ripen. The

35

Early Northern Muscadine comes from Lebanon, N. Y., and the
Early Amber from Harvard, Mass. The display of the in-
tolerable fox grape was as usual very large and needs no en-
couragement.

We cannot close this part of our report without expressing
our satisfaction with the method adopted this year of num-
bering the various collections rather than placing the names
of the contributor upon them. By this plan the Committee
are able to makeup their awards in a perfectly impartial man-
ner, giving premiums to specimens instead of, as is too often
the case, to individuals.

Your Committee award the following premiums and gra-
tuities : —

APPLES.

1st Premium, Benjamin Snow, Jr., - - 4 00

2d » Moses M. Gage, - - 3 00

3d " Dr. J. A. Marshall, - 2 00

4th « Enoch Caldwell, - - 1 00

Gratuities, Ezra Kendall, Sterling, 63

" Jacob Haskell, - 50

" I vers Phillips, 50

Dr. T. R. Boutelle, - - 37

" Benjamin Safford, - - 37

" Levi Kendall, ... 37

" Thomas Trees, 25

" Addison Hubbard, - - 25

" Cyrus Thurston, 25

L. H. Bradford, - - 25

25
25

3 00

2 00

1 00

50

50

it

Charles Flagg, Sterling

it

Miss Lucy A. Lowe,

PEARS.

1st

Premium, B.

Snow, Jr.,

2d

it

W.

G. Wyman.

3d

a

Dr,

, J. Fisher,

Gratuities.

L. H.

Bradford,

it

Cyrus

Thurston,

36

Gratuities, Charles Nicholson, Leominster, - 50

" Thomas Trees, ... 50

Hale VV. Page, ... 50

Enoch Caldwell, ... 37

" Dr. T. R. Boutelle, - - 37

" J. T. Everett, Princeton, - - 37

" Dr. J. A. Marshall, - - 37
PEACHES,

1st Premium, N. F. Ackley, Early Crawford, 2 00

2d « Ezra Kendall, Sterling, " " 1 50

3d " Mrs. dishing, Lunenburg, " " 1 00

4th ■' Charles Nicholson, Leominster, " 75

Gratuities, Mrs. J. D. Cowdin, five varieties, - 50

" Ezra Kendall, Early York, - - 37

" Addison Hubbard, varieties, - - 25
PLUMS.

1st Premium, Dr. J. A. Marshall, Green Gage, 1 50

2d " B. Snow, Jr., - " " 1 00

3d " Cyrus Thurston, Smith's Orleans, 50

Gratuity, Jacob Haskell, - Colombia, - 37

QUINCES.

1st Premium Ezra Kendall, Sterling, - 1 00

2d " B. Snow, Jr., ... 50

GRAPES.
1st Premium, Dr. J. Fisher, Early Northern Muscadine, 1 00

2d " B. Snow, Jr., Early Amber, - 75
3d •' Samuel Burnap, Isabella, - - 50

BOQUETS.

1st Premium, Mrs. Thomas Palmer, - 1 00

2d " P. S. Snow, - - 67

3d " H. S. O. Hill, Gardner, - - 33

GRATUITIES.

Charles Flagg, Sterling, Cranberries, 50

N. S. Boutelle, " 37

Thomas Trees, « - - 25

Mrs. W. G. Wyman, Oranges, - - 50

37

GRAIN.

Committee. — Messrs. Joseph Upton, Moses M. Gage, Benjamin Safford,
Joseph Smith, Levi Downe, Fitchburg.

There were five entries of Wheat, two of Rye, one of Oats,
and eleven of Corn. The Committee were unanimous in
awarding the premiums as follows : —

WHEAT.
To William W. Watson, of Princeton, the first premi-
um of $4 00
He having raised 82 bushels, weighing 63 pounds
per bushel, on 2 acres 74 and 3-4 rods, which is
a fraction over 33 bushels to the acre.
To Amory Davidson, of Sterling, the second premium

of 2 00

He having raised 32 and 3-4 bushels to the acre,
weighing 62 and 1-2 pounds per bushel.
RYE.
To Liberty Wellington, of Ashby, the first premium

of 3 00

He having raised on one acre 34 and 1-4 bushels,
weighing 56 pounds per bushel.
To Benjamin Wheeler, of Fitchburg, the second pre-
mium of 2 00
His crop being about 20 bushels to the acre, weigh-
ing 59 and 1-2 pounds to the bushel.
OATS.
There was but one field of Oats offered for premium, and
that by Charles Nicholson, of Leominster, who raised on 114
square rods, 60 bushels, weighing 39 pounds to the bushel.
The rule offering the premium on the crop of " not less than
one acre of land," cuts him off; we therefore recommend a
gratuity equal to the first premium. $3 00

CORN.
Eleven fields of Corn were entered for premium ; some
of them were very good. William G. Wyman's field had
twenty-six hills to the square rod, the ears weighing 38 1-2

38

pounds to the rod. The field offered by Dr. J. Fisher weighed
a little more to the square rod than Mr. Wyman's, but regard
being had to expense of cultivation and manuring, we are
satisfied that the first premium, on yellow corn, of $6 00,
belongs to Wm. G. Wyman, of Fitchburg.

The field offered by Dr. J. Fisher, of Fitchburg, was plant-
ed in rows one way, the stalks standing about seven inches
apart. The ears- weighed 41 1-2 pounds to the rod. To him
we award the second premium of $4 00.

Joseph Upton offered two fields, one of white corn and one
of yellow. His field of yellow corn had twenty-seven hills
to the square rod, the ears weighing thirty-eight pounds. An-
other field which was offered, weighed the same, but regard
being had to manuring and cultivation, we are satisfied that
the third premium of $3 00 belongs to him.

The field offered by Benjamin Wyman, of Westminster,
had 29 hills to the square rod, the ears weighing thirty-eight
pounds, and to him we award the fourth premium of $2 00.

The field offered by Joseph Smith, of Fitchburg, was a
very good field of Corn, twenty-three hills to the rod, the ears
weighing 36 pounds ; we recommend a gratuity of $2 00.

Mr. Upton's field of white Corn, the only one of that kind
of corn entered, had thirty seven and a half hills to the square
rod, the ears weighing fifty-three pounds. We award him
the first premium on white Corn, $5 00.

The Committee take great pleasure in noticing the increas-
ing interest felt by many of the farmers of this society in the
cultivation of grain, more particularly wheat and corn. It is
often said that wheat is an uncertain crop, but for a few years
past the coffee-wheat, so called, Avith good cultivation, has
never failed of giving a good crop. There may be other kinds
as good, and when we can raise it for one dollar per bushel,
or less, we think it ought to be more generally cultivated. It
cannot be said of Indian corn as of wheat, that it is an uncer-
tain crop, for with good cultivation we are sure, nineteen out
of twenty years, of a bountiful harvest. On tMs grain the

39

fanner mainly depends to fatten his beef and pork, and to
give strength to his animals for labor ; and what could the
farmer himself do without a good supply of Indian bread and
pudding to give him strength for the labor of the farm ? It is
often said that we cannot raise corn on our rough farms for
less than one dollar per bushel, which we think is not true.
The average cost of the corn offered in this society for premi-
um this year, is not far from fifty cents per bushel, and we
think that with the use of labor-saving implements and a
bountiful application of manure, it can be raised at from fifty
to seventy-five cents per bushel, generally, which at the pre-
sent prices leaves a good profit for its cultivation.

In closing this report we would say to our brother farmers,
raise more grain.

JOSEPH UPTON, Chairman.

Wm. W. Watson's Statement.
To Wm. W. Watson.
Sir : Your field of Java Wheat contains,

2 acres, 91 3-4 rods
deducted for wet land 17 rods

2 acres, 74 3-4 rods,
Surveyed by Charles Chaffin, Surveyor.
Princeton, Sept. 10, 1855.

I hereby certify that on the above piece of ground I raised,
the current year, eighty-two bushels of Wheat, weighing sixty-
three pounds per bushel. Sowed six bushels of seed. No
manure this year ; about sixty loads were put on the same
last year for a crop of corn.

Labor in sowing — man and oxen, eight days ; in harvest-
ing— man, six days. Threshed for one-twelfth part.

WM. W. WATSON.
Witness. — Abel Green,
J. M. Watson.

40

Amory Davidson's Statement.
The acre of land on which my wheat was raised is a grav-
elly or rather cobbly loam. It was planted two years previ-
ous,— the first year on the sod and manured in the hill with
a small shovelfull of compost from my barnyard. Last year
I ploughed in twenty-four cart loads of green manure from my
barn cellar, and manured in the hill same as the year before.
This year I washed my seed and let it soak twenty-four hours,
then stirred in slacked lime and plaster to separate it, and
sowed two bushels of the coffee id heat to the acre, and harrowed
it in thoroughly, bushed and rolled the ground down flat and
smooth. After it was up about four inches high, sowed on
three hundred pounds of plaster. Harvested the middle of
August and had 32 3-4 bushels to the acre, by measure, or a
fraction over 34 by weight, which weighs 62 1-2 pounds to
the bushel. It was cut before the straw was turned fully yel-
low. My seed cost me three dollars per bushel, and I reckon
the same price on the crop, as I had promised, for seed for an-
other year, all I have to spare at the same price, before it was
harvested.

Value of crop, 34 bushels Wheat, $102 00

1 ton Straw, 8 00

$110 00

Expenses,

Plowing, i

P

00

Seed,

6

00

Sowing and Harrowing,

1

50

Bushing and Rolling,

75

Three hundred lbs. plaster, 1

05

Harvesting,

3

00

Threshing and Cleaning,

4

50

Interest on the land.

4

50

23 30

Balance in favor of Crop, $S6 70
AMORY DAVIDSON.
Sterling, 1S55.

41

Liberty Wellington's Statement.
The amount of Rye raised on one acre was 34 1-4 bushels.
Expense, One bushel and three quarts of seed, 1 37
Two day's work getting in, 2 00

Three " " cutting and binding, 3 00
Three " " threshing and cleaning, 3 00
One " " carting, 1 00

$10 37
LIBERTY WELLINGTON.

Benjamin Wheeler's Statement.
I hereby certify that my field of Spring Rye contains one
acre and 142 rods ; the expense for labor was

Plowing, sowing and harrowing, 7 1-2 days, $7 50

Harvesting, 5 1-2 days, - - - 5 50

$13 00
Yield of Rye was thirty-six and three-fourths bushels ; or
nineteen one-eighth bushels of fifty-nine one-half pounds per
acre.

The same field was planted with corn last year, and ma-
nured with barn manure, one shovel full to the hill ; no ma-
nure used this year.

BENJAMIN WHEELER.

Vouchers — Alfred M. Wheeler,
James B. Wheeler.

Charles Nicholson's Statement.
The land, one hundred and fourteen square rods, on which
my oats were raised, the present season, had been planted
two years, manuring with twenty loads of barn-yard manure.
This year the- oats were sowed without any manure. We
threshed and cleaned sixty bushels of oats, which weighed
thirty-nine pounds to the bushel.

Expense, Man and Oxen one day, - $2 00

6

42

Expense, Harrowing and sowing, - - 2 00
Harvesting, - 2 00

Threshing and cleaning,

CHARLES NICHOLSON.

Leominster, Sept. 18, 1855.

W. G. Wyman's Statement.
The acre of Corn which I offer for your examination is
part of a field of three and one-fourth acres, which in 1853
produced only 1650 pounds of hay, it having been mowed
eight years previously. In the autumn of that year it was
ploughed. The soil is mostly a light yellowish loam, rather
stoney. The field inclines very much to the East. In 1854
about one half of it was planted with corn, manured with a
compost manufactured out of doors from the droppings of my
cows and swine the summer previous, mixed with loam and
weeds, together with the scrapings from under an old barn,
three dollars worth of ashes and six loads of stable manure,
the whole mixed together in the Spring, spread evenly and
ploughed in. The remainder of the field was manured
very lightly in the hill and planted with potatoes and beans,
but not ploughed at all.

Last Spring the whole field was manured with about thir-
teen and one half cords of compost, manufactured in my bam
cellar from the droppings of one horse, two cows, two calves,
and three pigs, from the 10th of September, 1854, to April
1st, 1855, mixed with loam, weeds, and meadow muck, to-
gether with four cords manufactured in the field from the
cleanings of the vault, three barrels of urine, four or five
bushels of lime and ashes in which some animal matter had
been dissolved, mixed with two loads of hog manure, and
ten loads of meadow muck, making in all about seventeen
and one half cords, say fifty-two loads spread evenly and
ploughed in with a side-hill plough running from eight to
eleven inches deep.

The field was harrowed once and marked one way with

43

an instrument which made five marks at once, three feet
apart, and on the 26th and 28th of May, three acres were
planted with common yellow corn, using Randall & Jones'
double corn planter, set three feet six inches wide, with which
I crossed the marks, giving rows both ways. When the corn
c ame up I put a handfull of ashes on the hills, using forty-
eight bushels. I planted it so deep that it did not come up
well, and the worms and crows worked it badly. The defi-
cient hills I supplied with beans and cabbages.

The corn was hoed twice by myself and two men working
one day each time. Previous to hoeing I ran through my
horse hoe, once in a row each way, both times, it requiring
one day's work of myself, horse and boy each way, both times,
or four days with the horse hoe.

I estimate the expense of cultivating the one acre, as fol-
lows, viz : —

Manure, - - - - $16 00

Laying out and spreading the manure, 16 loads, 4 00
Laying out the ashes, 1 6 bushels, - - 2 67

Ploughing and harrowing, - - - 3 50

Marking and Planting, - - - 33

Cultivating with the horse hoe, 2 50

Hoeing with the hand hoe twice, - - 2 00

W. G. WYMAN. $31 00

Jabez Fisher's Statement.
The acre of corn which I enter for the society's premium,
was planted upon a moderately strong loam, resting upon a
clayey bottom. Its slope was toward the south and east.
Cultivated last year for sweet and fodder corn. Plowed twice
during the third week in May, ten to twelve inches deep.
Manured broad cast, previous to plowing, with 14 loads, con-
taining 4 1-2 cords, of the following compost. Of the clear
droppings, solid and liquid, of 1 horse and 7 head of neat
stock 4 parts, wool waste 1 part. Corn of the King Philip

44

variety was sown May 26th, in drills 3 feet 8 inches apart ;
the stalks at gathering, averaging 7 1-2 inches distant from
each other in the row. Manured in the drill with hen manure,
worked fine with loam. Hoed twice with the horse hoe, fol-
lowed by the hand hoe. Culture entirely flat. Stalks were
cut up whole Sept. 24th, and stooked on the field. Husked
the last week in October, and yielded 6640 pounds of ears, or
41 1-2 pounds -to the square rod. The whole amount of soft
corn was less than a bushel, of which I make no account.
One acre of land in account with Jabez Fisher, Cr.

By 92 2-9 bushels 72 pounds each, of sound corn at

$1,12 1-2, $103 75

Fodder, 15 00

Unexpended Manure, 2-5 of the whole, 14 00

n

$132 75

Contra.

Dr.

'or

Interest and Taxes,

$ 6 95

u

Plowing twice,

4 00

a

Cultivating and furrowing,

1 00

ti

Compost manure,

27 00

a

Hen manure,

8 00

H

Carting and spreading,

3 00

u

Planting and seed,

2 00

it

First hoeing,

3 20

a

Second hoeing,

3 20

it

Cutting and stooking,

3 15

a

Storing and husking,

9 00

u

Balance, being net profit per acre,

62 25

$132 75

Cost of production of corn per acre, $41 50
" " « per bushel of 72 pounds, 45

Profit per bushel, 67 1-2

JABEZ FISHER.

45

Joseph Upton's Statement.

The field of Yellow Corn that I offer for your inspection,
was cultivated in the following manner, and contains two
and a half acres. It was turned over with a double plough
about the 15th of May last, and about 300 pounds guano
sowed on the furrow, broad cast, and harrowed thoroughly
in, then furrowed out one way, and put about twelve loads of
compost manure in the hill to the acre ; planted about the
20th of May with Yellow Button Corn. I charge one-half
of the manure to the corn crop, and that together with the
expense of cultivation, amounts to $26,90 to the acre.

The field of White Corn that I offer for your inspection,
was ploughed up in the Fall of 1854, about nine inches deep.
Last Spring 1 harrowed down the furrows and spread twenty
ox cart loads of green manure to the acre, and ploughed it in
about eight inches deep ; then furrowed one way, and planted
the Tuscan White Corn, putting a small handfull of plaster
and ashes in each hill and hoed twice. One half of the cost
of the manures charged to the corn crop, together with the
expense of cultivation, calling labor at one dollar per day,
makes $28 00.

JOSEPH UPTON.

Benjamin Wyman's Statement.
I expended on the acre of corn which I entered for premi-
um, and which the committee examined, as follows : —
Splitting hills, plowing fine, and furrowing rows, $ 5 00
Twenty -five cart loads green manure from barn cel-
lar, spread, and fifteen loads compost put in hill, esti-
mated on field at one dollar, one half for consumption,
Seed, corn, planting, and dropping manure, in hill,
Hoeing twice and plowing in row,

Total, $35 00

The corn was planted about the 15th of May, and I am not

aware that I managed any different from the usual way of

20

00

5

00

5

00

46

raising corn, excepting in the dry part of the season I irrigat-
ed the field by turning a small stream of water from the
brook, around it, which kept it in a moderately moist state.
Truly yours, in haste,

BENJAMIN WYMAN.
Westminster, Oct., 1855.

'Joseph Smith's Statement.
The field of corn I offer for premium, is part of one and a half
acres of land on which wheat grew the last year. I spread
ten loads manure of thirty bushels each, which, together with
the stubble was ploughed in about the 20th of May. 1 then
furrowed each way, the rows being 3 feet 4 or 5 inches distant,
and applied 10 loads of compost manure in the hill.
Expense of labor, &c. : —

Twenty loads of manure, - $20 00

Labor of applying the same, - 3 00

Plowing the land, - - - 2 50

Furrowing and planting, - 2 50

Hoeing the same twice, - - - 4 00

$31 50

EOOT CROPS.

Experiments in Raising Potatoes and Cranberries,

and Experiments testing the comparative

value of different kinds of Manure.

Committee. — Messrs. Elisha Murdock, Winchendon ; Benjamin Snow, Jr.,
Fitchburg; Hobart Spencer, Ashhy ; Samuel Burnap, Addison Hubbard,
Fitchburg.

On Carrots. Seven fields were entered for premium.
The Committee award the

1st premium to Wm. J. Clifford, of Fitchburg, $3 00

2d " " Joel Hayward, of Ashby, 2 00

47

On Experiments in Raising Potatoes, two entries.
1st premium is awarded to B. SarTord, of Fitchburg, 4 00
2d " " " " Dr. J. Fisher, " 2 00

Experiments with Manures, two entries. The com-
mittee award the

1st premium to Dr. J. Fisher, of Fitchburg, 5 00

2d " " B. SarTord « " 3 00

Wm. J. Clifford's Statement.
My crop of Carrots was raised in the following manner, on
81 rods of land, which for six years previous had been in a
state of good cultivation. Before plowing, eight good ox
cart loads of well rotted barn yard manure, mostly from the
horse stable, were spread, plowed about eight inches deep,
the last of May. Three or four days afterwards I plowed
again and sowed broad-cast seventy pounds of guano ; then
raked well and sowed the seed with a machine, in rows about
sixteen inches apart. Hoed with the hand hoa three times;
did not thin out at all. In the early part of November I har-
vested from two square rods, which were considered no bet-
ter than the average of the whole field, 850 lbs. of carrots,
making on the 81 rods 34,425 lbs., being at the rate of
68,000 lbs. or 1236 20-55ths bushels of 55 lbs. per acre.
Exepenses. — Plowing, - - - -

8 loads manure at $2 00,
70 lbs. guano, ...

Seed, raking and sowing,
Hoeing three times,
Harvesting, say

$45 10
34,425 lbs. carrots — 17 tons 425 lbs., at say $12 00 per tonr

$206 25
Tops, - * - - - 8 00

214 55

$2

00

16

00

2

10

2

00

6

00

17 00

48

Amout brought over, - 214 55

Expenses, - - - - 45 10

Profit, $169 54

WILLIAM J. CLIFFORD.

Joel Hayward's Statement.
The crop of Carrots which J offer for premium was 7166
pounds, grown upon twenty-one square rods of ground,
making the amount grown upon an average square rod
341 4-21 lbs., making 124 bushels of 55 pounds to the eighth
or 992 bushels to the acre. The ground had been in grass
five years previous to the fall of 1854, when it was broken
up with a double Michigan plough, 8 inches deep. In May,
1855, spread 4 loads of green manure from my barn cellar and
ploughed it in 12 inches deep ; then spread 20 loads of com-
post and harrowed it in ; then bushed and sowed the 19th of
May, in rows 14 inches apart, hoed three times and thinned
from 2 to 3 inches apart. I have never raised the same
amount of carrots with the same labor. Expense of crop : —

Plowing and carting manure,

Spreading manure and sowing,

Seed, -

Hoeing and thinning, -

Harvesting, -

Manuring, - „' _ ■

Value of Crop,

3 1-2 tons of Carrots, at $12 per ton,

For tops, -

$1

00

33

75

5

00

4

00

4

00

$15

08

42

00

2

00

$44

00

15

08

Net Profit, $28 92

49

B. Safford's Statement.
The land on which I tried my experiment has been in
grass some eight years, without any manure. In the Fall of
1854 it was turned over, and last Spring plowed again. It is
on a side hill, and I think if the whole piece had been ma-
nured with one kind of manure there would have been one
quarter more Potatoes on the lower than on the upper side.
The piece being long and narrow, I furrowed length ways
making 18 rows and 130 hills long. I commenced planting
on the lower side.

Lot. Manure, Product of 10 hills.

No. 1. Horse Manure, a shovelfull to the hill, *26 1-2 lbs.
" 2. Guano, a large table spoonfull to the hill, 27 3-4 "
" 3. Guano and Plaster, equal parts, a spoonfull, 27 "

" 4. Guano and Muck, one part Guan© three parts

Muck, a handfull, 26 1-2 "

" 5. Droppings during the previous summer from
the turkey roost, which had laid out un-
der the tree all Winter and Spring, with
Muck, one part turkey manure to two
parts muck, one pint to the hill. 30 "

*The potatoes grown in the horse manure were very wormy,
all the other lots were fair, and free from worms.

B. SAFFORD.

Jabez Fisher's Statement.
My experiment in raising Potatoes, which is at the same
time an experiment in manuring, was conducted as follows.
One fourth of an acre of ground, consisting of a moderately
strong loam resting upon a clay bottom, was divided into five
equal parts. Each plot was manured, as in the table, with
75 cents worth of the material, or at the rate of $15 per acre.
The potatoes were of the long black variety, and of those
planted no one exceeded an English walnut ill size, while
they would average considerable smaller. They were planted
June 12th, in drills 3 feet 9 inches apart, the potatoes being
7

50

placed from 12 to 15 Laches distant from each other in the drill.
The manure was put in the drill with the potatoes. The
ground was hoed but once, and the cultivation was entirely
flat. The crop was dug Oct. 26th. The potatoes were large ?
fair, and free from rot, and the whole crop was weighed.
Lot, Manure, Product, Proportion of Product

No. 1, Mape's Improved Super-
phosphate of Lime, 735 lbs.

" 2, DeBurg's No. 1 Super-
phosphate of lime, 642 "

" 3, Mape's Nitrogenized su-
per-phosphate of lime, 603 "

" 4, Guano and Plaster mix-
ed in equal quantities, 429 "

" 5, Barnyard Manure, 417 "

JABEZ FISHER.

small potatoes
in bulk.

per acre

1 in 11

245 bu

1 " 12

214 «

1 « 12

201 "

1 " 11

143 "

1 " 8

139 «

Jabez Fjsher's Statement.
My experiment in the application of manures was conduct-
ed as follows. I divided 1 1-4 acres of ground, consisting of
a moderately strong loam upon a clay bottom, into five equal
parts. Except in the matter of manures, all parts of the field
were treated precisely alike. The compost mentioned in the
table, was made from four parts of the clear droppings, solid
and liquid, of the barn, with one part of wool waste. This
was ploughed in. The Guano and Plaster were mixed, sown
broadcast, and, as were also the Phosphates, worked in with
the cultivator. Long Orange Carrot seed 2 1-2 lbs. to the
acre was sown May 26th, in drills 17 inches apart. The seed
vegetating very unsatisfactorily, the whole piece was resown
in the same drills June 13. The plants came up very thinly,
looked small all the season, and ceased growing about the
middle of September. This deficiency in growth I am at a
loss to account for, unless it is to be attributed to the quality
of the seed ; for the reason that upon a part of the same

51

ground, I raised carrots at the rate of nearly 1000 bushels to
the acre last year, when the season was less propitious than
this. The seed was purchased both years, but from different
sources. The value of the experiment is not interfered with
by this small yield except in this, that had the carrots grown
through the entire season, I am inclined to the belief that that
portion manured with the compost would have increased in a
greater ratio than the others. The ground was hoed twice,
and the crop harvested Oct. 30th. Total avarage cost of pro-
duction, including interest on the land and taxes, 15 cts. per
bushel.

Lot, Manure, Cost per Acre, Product per Acre.

No. 1. DeBurg's No. 1 Super
phosphate of lime,

" 2. Mape's Nitrogenized Su-
per phosphate of lime,

" 3. Mape's Improved do.,

" 4. Guano and Plaster, equal
weights,

" 5. 6 loads compost,

B. S afford' s Statement.
The piece of land on which I tried my experiments was
broke up in the Fall of 1853, and in the Spring of 54 a part
of it was planted with Potatoes without any manure except
a little Guano, Plaster, and hen manure : the remainder was
sowed with oats without any manure. Last Spring I spread
on a very small coat of green manure and ploughed it in, I
then harrowed and furrowed it ready for planting. I com-
menced planting on the end that was planted with Potatoes
last year. The kind of corn I planted is the Tuscan, or smut-
ty white.

Lot. Manure, Product of 10 hills.

No. I. DeBurg's super poshphate of Lime, 10 3-4 lbs. of ears.

*J 2. Two parts muck 1 part Dove manure 13 3-4 " " "

12 50

395 bushels.

12 50

366 a

12 50

350 "

12 50

339 "

48 00

294 "

52

No. 3. Muck and lien manure in same pro-
portion, 11 3-4 lbs. of ears.
" 4. Night soil, muck and loam, about

four to one, 12 1-2 " " "

" 5. Hog manure, 14 1-4 " " "

" 6. Bones, ashes, loam and urine, 13 3-4 " " "

" 7. Guano, - 31 stalks 49 ears, 21 1-4 " « "

Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 7, had one table spoonful to the hill.

Thirty hills to the square rod.

B. SAFFORD.

VEGETABLES.

COMMITTER — Messrs. Judson S. Brown, Elnathan Davis, Abel Marshall,
Wm. J. Clifford, Fitchburg ; Luke Wellington, Ashby.

The Committee on Vegetables have attended to the duties
assigned them and beg leave to present the following report.

The Show in this department it is thought, exceeded all
previous ones, and justly merits the high encomiums bestowed
upon it. In the judgement of the Committee, the vegetables
on exhibition to-day, exhibit an increasing interest in the va-
rious products of the garden and field, highly creditable to the
contributors, and also to the Society.

The Committee exceedingly regret that a larger sum was
not placed at their disposal, that they might have distributed
the premiums of the Society more in accordance with their
own feelings and the real claims of the one hundred compet-
itors, who honored the Society with their generous and attrac-
tive contributions.

The premiums awarded are as follows : —
SQUASHES.
To Levi Kendall, Fitchburg, 1st Premium, $1 00

Laurin Pratt, " 2d " 75

Matthew Walker, 3d " 50

Benj. F. Proctor, Fitchburg, 4th " 37

James P. Putnam, " 5th " 30

53

Ward Russell, Ashburnham,

25

Enoch Caldwell, Fitchburg,

25

Ezra Kendall, Sterling,

25

PUMPKINS.

Dr. J. Fisher, Fitchburg,

30

A. Crocker, Fitchburg,

25

Wm. Farnsworth, " -

26

Ezra Kendall, Sterling,

25

MELONS.

L. Stockwell, Fitchburg,

30

N. Cowdin, " -

25

ENGLISH TURNIPS.

Allen B. Wood, Westminster,

30

BEANS.

Samuel Haws, Fitchburg,

25

George Lowe, " -

25

Levi Kendall, <«'.-,-

25

Amory Davidson, Sterling,

25

David Battles, Fitchburg,

25

ONIONS.

Lawrin Pratt, Fitchburg,

75

PEPPERS.

A. Crocker, ._-..--

25

POTATOES. (10 Varieties.)

Judson S. Brown, Fitchburg,

- $1 00

N. Cowdin, "

33

N. Caswell, "

30

Dan. S. Eaton, «,„._.,

25

David Battles, "

50

John Mollis, "

37

J. A. Marshall, "

25

Besides the above named premiums, a large number of gra-
tuities in smaller sums, amounting, together with the above
premiums, to twenty one dollars, were awarded for specimens
of vegetables, excellent in their kind, of all the varieties usu-
ally raised in our gardens and fields.

54
BREAD, BUTTER, CHEESE, PICKLES, AND HONEY.

COMMITTEE. — Messrs. Ebenezer Torrey, Ivors Phillips, Filrhburg ; Daniel
Putnam, Lunenburg; ; L. H. Bradford, Fitchburg ; Mrs. A. F. Adams, Mrs.
L. II. Bradford, Filchburg ; Mrs. J. T. Everett, Princeton.

The Committee on Bread, Butter, Cheese, Pickles and Hon-
ey, having attended to the duties assigned to them, have in-
structed me to submit the following Report.

Although there were twenty-one specimens of Bread offered
for premiums, and premiums were offered for four varieties of
bread, there were but three kinds of bread brought forward
for examination. There was no bread made from unbolted
wheat. A very considerable proportion of the bread was bak-
ed on the morning of the day of examination, and some of it
was found by the committee to be quite warm. We would
suggest that all bread intended for examination for premiums,
especially brown bread, should be baked the day previous, in
order to be in a fit state for a fair test of its quality. The
Committee have examined all the specimens of all the various
articles submitted to them with much care, and have awarded
to Miss Mary E. Smith, for the best loaf of wheat bread, the
first premium of one dollar, and to Miss C. McCarthy, for the
second best, the second premium of fifty cents. To Miss
Julia M. Downe, for the best loaf of bolted rye, one dollar.
For the best loaf of brown bread a majority of the Committee
have directed me to report the first premium, of one dollar, to
Miss Sarah Marshall ; and to Miss Alice J. Wellington, the sec-
ond premium of fifty cents. Other samples of brown bread
were offered, which in the opinion of some of the Committee
were quite equal to the above.

Of Butter there was a fine display both in quantity and
quality. Fifteen different lots were offered, and although
most of it was good, and some of it was very excellent, the
Committee found no difficulty in selecting those that seemed
to them entitled to premiums.

To Mrs. Wilkes Roper, for a box of beautiful lump but-
ter, they award the first premium of $3 00

00

To Mrs. Hosea Greene, for a tub of very fine quality,

is awarded the second premium of 2 00

" Mr. George Miles, the third premium of 1 50

" Mr. Wm. W. Watson, the fourth premium of 1 00

Five lots of Cheese were offered for premiums, mostly of a

good quality.

To Mr. George Miles, is awarded the first premium of $2 00
" Wm. W. Watson, the second premium of 1 50

" Luke Wellington, the third « " 1 00

There were eight jars of pickles offered, and we award
To Mrs. Luke Wellington, for the best jar of pickles

the first premium of 75

" Jas. P. Putnam, for the second best the second

premium of 50

" Mr. J. C. Moulton, for the third best, the third pre-
mium of 25
Of Honey, the Committee regret to say there was but a
single box, and this, owing probably to some peculiarity of the
season, had a somewhat bitter taste, which precluded it from
the first premium. They award, therefore, to Edward P.
Downe, the second premium of one dollar.

The duties of the Committee were important and of a deli-
cate character. They may be said to be peculiarly matters of
taste about which, it is said, there can be no dispute, but
about which, of all things, there exist the greatest differences
of opinion. Bread, Butter, Cheese, Pickles, and Honey are arti-
cles which have about as close and intimate a connection with
human existence, as the infinite succession of sweets and ac-
ids in our daily experience have in making up the sum of hu-
man happiness. But next to those two great banes of domes-
tic peace, one of which is a smoky house and the other said
to be most intimately connected therewith, but which is not
to be named in this audience, the greatest acid in domestic
life is a loaf of sour bread.

E. TORREY, Chairman.
Fitchburg, Sept. 19th, 1855.

5G

Mrs. Wilkes Roper's Statement.

I present for examination one box of September butter, con-
taining fifteen pounds, being a sample of eight hundred and
sixteen pounds, made from six cows between May 1st, and
Sept. 15, of the present month, besides the free use of milk
and butter for an average number of seven persons in the
family.

Process of Making. The milk is strained into tin pans
about half full and set in a well ventilated room, on the
northeast corner of the house. It is kept from thirty-six to
forty-eight hours, when the cream is taken into tin pails and
kept in a cool place until churned. We churn two or three
times in a week, as the cream is much injured by being kept
too long. The butter is well gathered and rinsed in pure cool
water, then taken from the churn and salted to suit the taste.

After standing two or three days it is worked over by hand
and lumped for market. Care is required not to keep the hand
in contact with it long enough to make it soft.

MRS. WILKES ROPER, Princeton.

Geo. Miles's Statement.
On Butter. The milk is strained into tin pans to remain
undisturbed from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The cream
is then taken from it, and deposited in another tin vessel to
remain two or three days, being careful not to close the vessel
tight, and to have the room well ventilated. The churning
is performed in the common fiat churn, and the buttermilk ex-
pressed as thoroughly as possible, when it is taken into a tray
and salted with one pound of the best salt and one teacupfull
of refined pulverized sugar to sixteen pounds of butter. It is
then suffered to remain for twenty-four hours when it is again
worked over and lumped for market or packed in jars.

GEO. MILES.

Geo. MfLEs' Statement

Of his process of making Cheese. We usually make but one
curd in a day. The night's milk is strained into pans, till
morning, when the cream that will have risen is taken off and
the milk warmed to blood heat, when the cream is again re-
turned to the milk and thoroughly mixed, (this is to prevent
the appearance of an oily substance that would run off with
the whey) and the whole immediately laded into a tub with
the morning's milk and set for the cheese with rennet sufficient
to form the curd in about thirty minutes ; and here much care
is esteemed necessary in cutting and crossing the curd, and
much moderation in dipping and draining the whey from it,
that the white whey (so called,) may not exude from it.

When sufficiently drained it is taken and cut with a
sharp knife to about the size and form of dice, when it is
salted with about one pound of fine salt to twenty-five of
curd. It is then subjected to a moderate pressure at first, grad-
ually increasing it for two days, (in the mean time turning it
twice a day and substituting dry cloths.) It is then taken
from the press and dressed all over with hot melted butter,
and covered with thin cotton cloth, and this saturated with
the melted butter. It is then placed upon the shelf and turn-
ed and rubbed daily with the dressing until ripe for use.

GEORGE MILES.

Mrs. Luke Wellington's Statement.
I offer for inspectiou one pot of Pickles, manufactured in
the following manner, viz : — The encumbers are put into a
weak brine, and scalded once a day for nine successive days,
then put into the pot ; the seasoning, made of horse-radish,
cloves, mustard seed, and allspice, are put in to the vinegar, scald-
ed, and while hot turned upon the cucumbers.

Mrs. LUKE WELLINGTON.
Ashby, Sept. 19th, 1855.

FANCY ARTICLES.

Committee. — Messrs. C. H. B. Snow, Jolm Upton, LcnnuYr Sprag;ue ; Mrs.
Asher Green, Mrs. J. J. Hardon, Mrs. Joseph Baldwin, Mrs. John Upton.

The display of Fancy Articles was not so large as at many
previous exhibitions, but many of them displayed much inge-
nuity of invention and taste, and skill in execution. Several
articles were brought in after the examination had been closed
and the premiums assigned, which were highly creditable to
the contributors, and if seasonably presented would have been
entitled to premiums.

Among these we would particularly mention some beauti-
ful specimens of hair work by Mrs. Levi Farwell.

Your Committee have assigned the premiums as follows : —
To Miss Hannah E. Newcomb, for a what-not, $1 50

Mrs. Daniel Cross, wrought collar, 1 50

" " Nancy Winch, wrought skirt, 1 50

" Tabitha Webber, worsted picture, 1 00

Miss Martha Stevens, wrought skirt and hand'kf, 1 00
" Hattie L. Hutchinson, wrought sleeve, 1 00

" M. Marshall, 4 pictures- and frames* 1 00

" Haskell, chair seat, 1 00

" L. W. Whitney, hair work, 1 00

Tyler, painting on glass, and shell work, 1 00

" Lucy L. Ruggles, taboret seat, 50

Mrs. J. J. Hardon, wrought collar, 50

Miss Sarah L. Pratt, worsted work, 50

" S. R. Wilder, wrought quilt, 50

Mrs. A. W. Sidney, wrought quilt, 50

Miss Nancy Wood, 50

Mrs. II. W.. Tuttle, taboret seat, 50

Miss Adeline Wetherbee, wrought scarf, 50

" Kate Phillips, taboret seat, 50

" Rebecca Manning, embroidery and collar, 50

" Eraaly A. Damon, wrought scarf, 50

" Harriet D. Upton, crochet tidy, 50

Mrs. H. J. Lowe, wrought chair seat, 50

a
it
a
it

n
u
a
u
u
n
a
a
a

59

To Miss E, R. Brown-, music stand,

" Elizabeth G. Gardner, chair and tabouret sent,
Mrs. Jesse Lyon, " "

Z. Tenuey. chair seat,
Mrs. Moses M. Gage, socks,
Miss Maria T. Tarbell. tabouret seat,

" Mary E. Pierce, embroidery,

Mrs. Mary Houghton, rug,

" J. W. White, " 25

" Mary Houghton, " 25

" Everett, <J 25

" Tabitha Webber, sofa pillow, 25

" Lizzie F. Estabrook, wrought skirt, 25

Miss Abby L. Goodnow, 25

Mrs. Anna Wyman, embroidery, 25

" Mary Brooks, wrought skirt, 25

Miss Emily A. Sawtell, wrought collar, 25

Mrs. .7. J. Hardon, embroidery, 25

Miss M. A. Cowden, picture, 25

" Sarah E. Hayden, picture, 25

" A. S. Ware, crosses wrought with moss, 25

" Lizzie S. Prew, picture, 25

Mrs. M. W. Tuttle, worsted work, 25

Miss L. M. Bateman, embroidered skirt, 25

All which is respectfuRy submitted by

C. H. B. SNOW, Chairman.

GARDENS.

Committee. — Messrs. Abel Fox Adams, Moses Wood, Levi Downc, Fitrh-
vurg.

The Committee on Kitchen Gardens having attended to
their duty, submit the following report : — ■

The care of a garden is a very ancient and honorable occu-
pation. Our first parents were placed in a garden to dress and

GO

to keep it, and if many of the present generation were placed
in a garden with similar instructions, it might be conducive to
their health, as well as be a source of profit.

Only two gardens were entered for our inspection, one by
Dr. T. R. Boutelle, the other by Gen. Moses Wood. The
Committee visited them on the 16th of July and found them
in fine order, some of the early crops had already been har-
vested, such as early peas, radishes, &c. They found potatoes
of good size for cooking, also peas, string beans, lettuce, onions,
turnips, beets, &c. We visited the gardens again the 3d of
September and found in several instances, a second crop grow-
ing where the first had been harvested, in one case, a second
crop of beets growing upon the same land ; every thing looked
prosperous except the weeds, which either did not come up
or were carefully removed before the examination of the com-
mittee, and the committee award

To Dr. T. R. Boutelle, the first premium of $5 00

" Gem Moses Wood, the second premium of 3 00

ABEL F. ADAMS.
For the Committee.

ORCHARDS.

Committee. — Jonas A. Marshall, Jabez Fisher, Daniel Messenger, John
Prichard, Joseph Pierce, Fitchhurg. [Mr. Messenger was unable to serve on
the Committee, from illness.]

Six Orchards were entered for premium by the following
members of the Society, viz : Daniel Works, Enoch Caldwell,
Addison Hubbard, Joseph Smith, of Fitchburg, one each, and
two by John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton.

September 22d, 1855. The Committee commenced their
labors at Princeton, where they were most kindly received and
hospitably entertained, by the Messrs. Brooks, senior and ju-
nior. Their excellent farm is situated in the centre of that
town, on a swell running about north and south : the orchards

61

referred to in the accompanying statement of Mr. Brooks are
situated on the east and west slopes of said swell ; what he
calls his west orchard is near the bottom of the slope and lies
open to the west wind, the land in that direction rising but
little from a plain ; the trees in this orchard are five years from
the setting, and the ground has been cultivated with some
hoed crop every year except the second, when oats were rais-
ed. The orchard on the east slope (called east orchard in the
statement,) reaches to the valley, which is narrow, and a large
hill or swell runs on the east side, so that this orchard is well
protected from east and west winds, and in fact from all winds ;
this was planted with the trees in the Fall of 1848 ; has been
in grass from three years before that time. The soil of this
orchard the Committee thought better than that on the west side
for trees, but being in grass they were somewhat at a loss to
understand why these trees should have made better growth
than the trees in the west orchard, which have been cultivated
as above stated. Mr. Brooks' trees have been injured by the
borer, and we think by the potash water. He has, however,
taken the best method known to eradicate the first evil — and
with a good will — and has resolved to make his liquor a little
weaker, if he does not abstain from the ' critter ' altogether.
Mr. Brooks, Sr., gave as a reason, for planting the trees in the
west orchard but twenty-five feet apart, the exposed situation
of the lot to the west winds ; that when grown they would
protect each other ; that the wind would have less power than
on trees less thickly planted. Mr. Brooks is a practical farmer,
of large experience, whose opinion on any subject connected
with Agriculture, is entitled to much consideration.

We have received statements from all who entered orchards,
except Mr. AVorks, and they accompany this report ; these
statements are not as full and particular as we could wish.
Our examination of their several orchards has convinced us
that potash, as a wash for trees, should be used with more
caution than is generally used. The orchard of Mr. Works
was injured, we think, very much by the potash with which

62

he washed his irees, and Mr. Works agrees with the Commit-
tee in that opinion; the location of his orchard is good, being
well protected against the west winds; the soil on which his
trees are planted is well adapted to grow the apple. Where
the ground has been well cultivated, which is the case with a
part of the lot, the trees have made a good growth, where they
have stood in grass they have almost refused a show of leaves
— to make wood they could not.

Mr. Smith has an orchard in a good bearing condition, for
the time being ; he has done but little, as appears from his
statement, for his trees, and how long they will continue to
produce good crops, of good fruit, time only can determine.

We next examined the orchard of Mr. Hubbard, his trees
were originally Foundlings, although by grafting, he has ob-
tained several varieties — his trees arc in a good thrifty condition,
they have been well cared for, and considering the manner of
obtaining his trees, we think he lias been remarkably success-
ful ; we doubt, however, this being the best or cheapest way
of obtaining a good orchard, all things considered. This
orchard lias an eastern exposure.

Enoch Caldwell's orchard is situated on Prospect Street,
near the summit of the hill on the west side of the street, is
nearly level, has a slight slope to the south, rather exposed to
winds, but slightly protected on the west by higher land, and
wood, standing at present.

We have been thus particular in locating this orchard, that
it may be readily found by those who feel an interest in the
cultivation of fruit; it is well worth the trouble of any who
are interested in fruit growing to visit it. The lot is about
1-4 of a mile from the Unitarian church ; may be seen from
the Street, and, with the consent of the owner, you can pass
through it and examine each tree particularly. These trees
are remarkably even, as to size and general appearance. The
orchard contains several varieties of fruit, although that fact is
not mentioned in his statement. We consider this orchard
almost perfect. When the committee were on this lot, the

question came up as to the value of such trees, and it was the
unanimous opinion that $25 dollars each was not above their
value. 13 not this an inducement, in a pecuniary point of
view, to plant good trees well, and on good ground, well lo-
cated, and after, cultivate well?

After examining these several orchards, the Committee had
no hesitation in awarding the two small premiums placed at
their disposal.

To Enoch Caldwell we award the First, $5 00

" Addison Hubbard the second premium of 3 00

We regret these premiums are not larger, for had they been
ten times larger, the recipients would have been richly entitled
to them, considering the amount which it costs to produce a
good orchard. The Committee hope the premiums on orchards
will be increased as soon as the funds of the Society will per-
mit.

All of which is respectfully submitted by

JONAS A. MARSHALL,

For the Committee.

Statement of John Brooks, Jr.

Princeton, Sept. 24, 1855.

As requested I send you a statement in regard to my orch-
ards, entered at the Worcester North Agricultural Society, viz.

My West orchard was set out in Spring of 1850, trees were
two years from the bud; the soil is a clay loam, clay subsoil :
it contains 130 trees, 25 feet apart each way : the holes were
dug 18 inches deep, 4 to 5 feet wide ;. there are 15 varieties,
viz., 20 Baldwins, 10 Hubbardston Nonesuch, 10 Ladies Sweet,
10 Lyscomb, 10 Mother, 10 Roxbury Russett, 10 Golden
Russett, 10 Jewett Sweet, 10 Danvers Sweet, 10 Fall apples,
5 Moore's Sweet, 5 Pear Russett, 5 Minister, 5 Golden Ball.
The piece was broken up the fall of 1S49. 1850 we raised
a crop of potatoes, no manure but plaster in the hill, the next
fall we put two heaps of manure on the piece, containing ten
loads each, spread in the spring, plowed it in. and sowed oats,

G4

since then we have manured it light, and sown it with turnips
about the first of August.

My East orchard was set out in the Fall of 1848, trees two
years from bud, it contained 110 trees, 28 feet apart each way,
with a peach tree between them, set in the Spring of 1849,
the holes were dug 18 inches deep 4 to 5 feet across. There
are 14 varieties, viz., 25 Baldwins, 10 Golden Ball, 10 Hub-
bardston Nonesuch, 10 Golden Russett, 10 Roxbury Russett,
5 Spice sweet, 5 Sweet Russett, 5 Danvf-rs Winter Sweet, 5
Orange apple, 5 Winter, 5 Lyscomb, 5 Swaar, 5 Mother, 5
Crown.

This orchard has been in grass ; it was set in grass, and has
been kept so since, it was laid down three years before the
orchard was transplanted ; nothing of note has been done to
the trees since setting until last fall, when I put five shovels
full of manure around the r@ots, to keep away the mice and
enrich the soil ; this Spring I turned the sods over three to
four feet around the trees, and have washed them twice with
potash water. I have been over them four times this season
to dig out and kill borers, finding some in every tree, (in some
as many as ten;) the last time I went through the orchard I
found but few. Mr. Buckminster, of the Plowman, says that
washing them in Potash water will kill the borers. I have
washed mine this year and know that it has not killed them.
But it has blistered my trees and made them look bad, if it
has not injured them. He may say that the water was tco
strong, but I followed his directions, viz., one pound to a pail
full of water. Yours with respect,

JOHN BROOKS, Jr.

Joseph Smith's Statement.
The orchard I offer for premium, contains one hundred
trees, in one field, in rows each way, 26 feet between the
rows. The trees have been set out about 25 years, and own-
ed by myself 7 years. The trees have all been grafted since
they were set out, with the following varieties : — Baldwins,

65

47 ; Greenings, 20 ; Early Williams, 6 ; Fall and Winter
Sweet, 8 ; and the remainder are four choice varieties. I
have applied different kinds of manure to the surface, which
has kept them in a growing and bearing condition, they hav-
ing produced with my other trees, 225 barrels of Winter fruit
the last year.

JOSEPH SMITH.

Addison Hubbard's Statement.

I submit the following statement in regard to the manage-
ment of my orchard.

It contains one hundred and seventy-five trees of the fol-
lowing varieties : Baldwin, Yellow Bellflower, Hubbardston
Nonesuch, Roxbury Russett, R. I. Greening, N. Y. Greening,
Newton Pippin, Orange Sweet, Winter Sweet, Washington
Sweet, Pumpkin Sweet, Porter, Foundling, Early Williams,
and Rindge Beauty. The soil is light, dry, and rocky. The
holes were dug about twenty inches deep, and wide enough
to receive the roots without bending them. The trees were
obtained from the road side, and in pasture land, &c. They
were set in April, one and a half rods apart, were cut off a lit-
tle above the ground, and grafted the same spring. The
ground has been cultivated about half of the time, and when
in grass it has been kept loose and free from grass about the
trunk of the trees, spreading and hoeing in a light coat of ma-
nure from the barn cellar each Autumn. I formerly washed
my trees with potash water, but for the last three years I have
not washed them at all.

ADDISON HUBBARD.

Fitchburg, Oct. 8th, 1855.

Enoch Caldwell's Statement.

The orchard entered by me for premium contains about one

hundred trees, which were set out in the Autumn of 1845, in

a dry, but loamy soil, twenty-two feet apart each way, the

holes being four feet across at the top, and one and a half deep,

9

66

care being taken to place the roots in the same position as be-
fore removal.

The land, which contains about 1 1-4 acres, has received
annually about twenty loads of barn yard manure, with the
addition of eight or ten bushels of unleached ashes — has been
cultivated most of the time — two years it was down to grass
and mowed twice each year, and the third year, observing
that the trees did not grow as well as usual — it was plowed,
and has since been cultivated.

The trees have been washed once and sometimes twice in
a year, in May and in July or August, with a solution of pot-
ash, in the proportion of one pound of potash to one and a half
gallons of water, which 1 think is as strong as the bark of
young trees will bear.

E. CALDWELL.

FAKMS.

Including the question of the greatest net profit from any
quantity of land not less than half an acre.

Committee. — Messrs. Ezra Kendall, Sterling ; Leonard Burrage, Leomin-
ster; Joel Page, Daniel Works, Fitchburg ; Ohio Whitney, Ashburnham.

The Committee have attended to that duty and respectfully
report, that but one farm has been entered with the Secretary
for their inspection. Their duty has been but too light, for
it would have been a great pleasure to have found more en-
tries, to solicit their attention. We found the farm of Mr.
Abel F. Adams of Fitchburg, duly entered on the Secretary's
book for our inspection. Accordingly the Committee, on the
5th of Sept., paid their respects to him. After being kindly
received by him, we spent the remainder of the forenoon in
viewing his orchard and buildings, and improvements contigu-
ous to them. With all these we were much pleased, finding
them arranged in the most convenient mannner to facilitate
the operations for which they were intended, combining utili-

61

ty with strict economy. His facilities for making manure
were found to be such as must answer the purpose for which
they were intended, and let nothing be lost. One barn ninety
by thirty-six feet, and one fifty by thirty feet, with cellars
under the whole, with suitable out buildings, were found to
contain keeping and stabling for some fifty head of cattle and
horses, so arranged as to insure to them the utmost comfort
and care, together with cleanliness. The house we found fit-
ted and furnished in the modern style of beauty, elegance and
comfort, which ought to satisfy any man who knows how to
prize and enjoy them, and which we were satisfied from un-
mistakable evidence, was managed by a presiding spirit, fully
competent to the task, whose viands were dispensed with a
liberal hand. These buildings, save the small barn, have all
been built, with all their appurtenances, by Mr. Adams. His
land, mostly extending north from the house, consists of one
hundred acres, making his farm extend a long distance from
his buildings, consequently greatly increasing the expense of
his field operations. Deducting sixteen acres of wood land
and two of unimproved pasture, it has all been thoroughly
subdued by the plow and divided into suitable and convenient
lots by heavy stone wall, including in the whole one thonsand
and fifty rods, making an average of forty-two rods yearly for
twenty-five years, besides carting, by his estimation, stone
enough for five hundred more, during the same time. These
fields we found throughout, smooth and handsome, though
some were very uneven from being upon a side hill, and most
of them supplied with water in troughs. By this judicious
arrangement he is enabled to use them alternately, for tillage,
mowing, and pasturing, as his convenience or interest may
require. In making all these improvements, and alterations
in the land, by levelling rough and unsightly, as well as unpro-
ductive places, and filling deep, inconvenient hollows, almost
countless loads of dirt must have been used, yet no scar or
hole was visible from whence it came, except where . he had
built a bank wall from five to seven feet high for some forty

68

rods, in order to make a road to his upper fields. All the rest
were covered by walls, or otherwise made smooth and even.
In doing all that he has done to bring his farm into such a
state of perfect cultivation, he has only made use of the re-
sources of his farm, and made the best of all the advantages
within his reach. This is what constitues a fanner in the
most approved acceptation of the term, and for this, as well as
for the neat and systematic manner in which he manages his
business, your Committee call him a pattern worthy of imita-
tion, and most cheerfully award him the premium offered by
the Society. It will be needless for me to give a detailed ac-
count of the manner of cultivation, as his statement, which he
has handed to the Committee will do much better. It
is evident he has cultivated his land, less with an eye to great
crops from all portions, than to extended and permanent im-
provements. But while his outlays have been large, his income
has some of the time, certainly been handsome. The sale of
his milk and calves in 1848 amounted to twelve hundred and
fifty-four dollars. One thing more I must mention which is
worthy of imitation, and that is his account with himself, by
which he is enabled to tell the amount, by estimation, meas-
ure, and weight of the products of his farm, together with his
bill for labor during the time he has been in the business.
During twenty-five years he has paid about ten thousand dol-
lars for labor, and until within a year or two, has paid interest
money besides. Were more to adopt this plan, that without
a liberal outlay, no corresponding income can be realized, we
should see less land overrun with bushes, and lying useless and
unfruitful. His system of rotation, we think is good, proba-
bly as profitable as any that can be adopted. ' His corn is plant-
ed nearer together than most farmers approve of, but his cer-
tainly looked well enough to justify his theory. We hear
many farmers say that their land is worn out and useless.
This is not the case, but is more likely to be run out by neg-
lect and idleness. Mr. Adams has paid out in the twenty-four
years, in addition to ten thousand five hundred and four dol-

69

lars for labor, sixteen hundred dollars for manure, and in the
result we see what can be done by untiling and well directed
industry.

EZRA KENDALL.

For Committee.

Abel F. Adams's Statement.
Gentlemen. The Farm which I offer for your inspection
I purchased in 1830. It contains about 100 acres, and is divid-
ed the present year, by estimation, as follows, viz : Woodland
16 acres, Pasture 30 acres, Mowing 38 acres, Corn 5 acres,
Potatoes, Corn Fodder and Garden vegetables 2 acres, Rye
5 1-2 acres, Oats 2 1-2 acres. Some of the land used for
mowing is dry, and has suffered severely the three last seasons
with droughth. My pasture land has nearly all been ploughed
and tilled, which I consider the best way of subduing bushes,
where the land will admit of the plow. Where the sod is
very tough, I have generally planted potatoes the first year,
corn the second year, then follow with oats and stock down
to grass. I have sometimes improved pasture land by plow-
ing in summer, applying a few loads of compost, sowing Rye
and grass seed in September, and let the cattle have the whole.
The Rye produces abundance of feed the next season, and on
light land 1 think is very profitable, I usually plow from two
to five acres of my mowing ground immediately after haying,
sow rye upon the furrow in September, and usually have a
fair crop. Last year I obtained 29 bushels per acre of the
white rye, (without manure,) on land that had been mowed
eight years. In the spring I plow in the stubble with the
Michigan plow, 7 inches deep for corn. If the land is light
and warm, I prefer to spread the manure (in compost) and
harrow it in. If the land is wet and cold, I prefer to manure
it in the hill. My crops of corn are not as large as I some-
times see reported, but I think I can improve my farm more
by raising 100 bushels corn on two acres, rather than by try-
ing to raise that amount upon one acre. For potatoes I plow

70

Greensward early in the spring, spread green manure upon
the furrow, harrow it in, apply a mixture of Plaster and Gu-
ano in the hill, and if I plant dry land, plant early and dig
early, I usually escape the rot. My stock is now light. As
I was about to repair my barn, I sold a large portion of my
cows in the Spring. I keep one yoke of oxen and one horse.
For cows and heifers I prefer the Durhams, as they arrive at
maturity early, and when you cease milking them, they make
more beef than any other breed. My Swine for the last few
years I have bought. I have tried the Suffolk, but think the
full bloods too small to make pork for market, for although
the pork may be very nice, the purchaser generally pays by
the pound and not by the breed. In the fall of the year I
feed my swine in the following manner. I have a kettle that
holds about a barrel, I fill it with small potatoes, windfall ap-
ples, and pumpkins, if I have them ; when they are boiled, I
put in twelve quarts of meal, mash fine, adding sufficient
water to fill the kettle. I usually raise a small patch of sweet
corn to feed to them green. I keep their beds well supplied
with straw, and their yards with mud, loam, weeds, &c.
My largest barn is 90 by 30 feet, with two sheds adjoining. It
has a cellar under the whole of it 8 feet deep. It contains stab-
ling for 30 head of cattle and 3 horses. The main stable for
cattle is upon the back side. The cattle enter the stables from
the cellar at the centre of the barn, and pass each way. The
manure is passed through the floor, and in the summer season,
is levelled and covered with mud or loam, once or twice a
Aveek. I have another building 50 by 30 feet, used for barn,
slaughter house, and storage for carts, wagons, tools, &c. It
has stabling for ten cattle. My apple trees have beeh much
troubled with borers, and from some cause, many of them do
not bear the kind of fruit for which I paid the nurseryman. I
usually hire two men for eight months, paying 15 or 16 dol-
lars pei month and board ; I also have occasional help by the
day ; I sometimes employ one man in the winter, and occa-
sionally get along a part of the time alone. If my statement

71

has not been sufficiently explicit, a multiplicity of cares must
be my apology.

Respectfully yours, ABEL F. ADAMS.

Fitchburg, Sept. 10th, 1855.

PLOWING.

Committee. — Messrs. Nathaniel Wood, Fitchburg ; Henry Boyles, Prince-
ton; Gilman Day, Templeton; Alonzo P. Goodridge, Fitchburg; David
Parker, Gardner ; Charles C. Xash, Princeton.

Plowing Match with Double Teams. The Committee on
Plowing with Double Teams for the year 1855, consisted of
Messrs. Wood of Fitchburg, Boyles of Princeton, Day of Tem-
pleton, Goodridge of Fitchburg, Parker of Gardner, and Nash
of Princeton.

Messrs. Wood and Goodridge were the only members of
said constituted Committee present. And it is very much to
be regretted that the other members did not find it convenient
to be present. The members however, present associated
with them Mr. Ephraim Graham, of Lunenburg, and he kind-
ly assisted in the duties to be performed.

There was but one team regularly entered, according to the
rule established for competition in this department, very much
to the regret of your Committee, and finding this to be the
case a few days ago, it was proposed that others, although
their oxen might be over five years> be invited to come in and
compete^ although it should not be to the disadvantage of the
one regularly entered.

Accordingly three others came forward and joined in the
competition, viz :

Levi Downe, of Fitchburg, with one yoke of oxen five years
old, and a horse.

Josiah Page, of Westminster, with one pair of oxen four
years old, and one pair of steers three years old.

72

Joel Page, ©f Fitchburg, with one yoke of oxen five years
old, with a horse.

Your Committee are fully aware that they cannot award
any premium, by the rules of the Society, except to those who
comply with the requsites — but assurances were given, with
which your Committee cheerfully comply, to recommend by
way of gratuities such sums of money as those prescribed, to
those who might volunteer to make this department interest-
ing.

As has been already stated, there were four competitors for
prizes, and the work was very well done by them all. There
was a little too much hurrying and agitation for the calm dig-
nity, which ever ought to set upon the face of a plowman,
and decidedly too great a use of the whip. It is hoped that
this latter fault especially, will be avoided in future years.
To Israel Everett, of Princeton, who complied with the
Rules of the Society, we award the second pre-
mium of $4 00

His team consisted of one yoke of oxen four years old, and
one pair of steers three years old, a very fine team, and would
have been entitled to the first premium, had there not been
too much haste manifested and a too free use of the whip.
We recommend a gratuity equal to the first premium,

to be paid to Joel Page, 6 00

And a gratuity equal to the third premium, to be paid

to Levi Downe, 3 00

Your Committee would add that the team of Mr. Josiah
Page was a fine team of a pair of oxen four years old, and a
pair of steers three years old, these latter weighing 2740 lbs.
But in consequence of their necks being sore they did not come
into the work quite equal to the other teams, still we think
Mr. Page is entitled to the thanks of the Society for coming
forward, accoutred as he was, to add life and spirit to the ex-
hibition.

All which is respectfully submitted by

N. WOOD, Chairman.

73

Plowing with Single Teams.

Committee. — Messrs. James P. Putnam, Fitchburg ; Solon Carter, Leom-
inster; Howard Gates, Ashby ; Jerome W. Foster, Ashburnham; Daniel
Miles, Westminster.

Your Committee on Plowing with Single Teams would
submit the following report. There were thirteen single
teams entered for competition, one of which not coming under
the rules of the Society, was thrown out, thereby reducing
the number to twelve. The first premium of $7 00, your
Committee award to George H. Briggs, of Harvard ; your
Committee cannot refrain from speaking in terms of the highest
praise in this case, for the excellent discipline of his oxen,
which were very small, and himself a mere boy. Plow, —
Double Michigan.

The second premium of $6 00, was awarded to Joseph
Upton, of Fitchburg, with Prouty & Mears' Michigan Plow,
No. 9.

The third premium of $5 00, was awarded to Rodney
Fuller, of the Fitchburg Town farm, with the Double Mich-
igan Plow.

The fourth premium of $4 00, was awarded to Samuel
Osgood, of Sterling.

The fifth premium of $3 00, was awarded to W. W. Wat-
son, of Princeton, with the Double Michigan plow.

The sixth and last premium of $2 00, was also awarded
to W. W. Watson, with his No. 73 1-2 R. N. & Mason's plow.

Your Committee would earnestly call your attention to the
plowing of lot No. 14, as being performed in a very excellent
and workmanlike manner, by the son of Alonzo P. Goodrich.
Your Committee not being able to award him a premium, by
his not being the owner of one of the oxen a sufficient length
of time, would recommend a gratuity of $4 00.

Your Committee cannot bat speak in terms of praise for

the promptness with which the teams were all on the ground;

every man being ready to start at the appointed time. Your

Committee would have been glad to have given more premi-

10

74

urns had it been in their power so to do, it being a difficult
task in some cases to decide to whom the premiums should
be given. On the whole, your Committee cannot but express
their satisfaction for the orderly and workmanlike manner
in which the work was performed.

All which is respectfully submitted,

J. P. PUTNAM.
For the Committee.

TOWN TEAMS.

The Committee appointed to examine and report upon
Town Teams, have attended to their duty and report that
there were three teams offered for our inspection, from the
towns of Fitchburg, Ashby and Sterling. The Committee
consisted of Capt. Ephraim Murdock, of Winchendon, Levi
Heywood, of Gardner, Hon. Luke Wellington, of Ashby,
Leonard Barrage, of Leominster, Abel F. Adams, of Fitch-
burg, George Miles of Westminster, and Ezra Kendall, of
Sterling. The teams were all such as the towns, as well as
the owners, may well be proud of, and the Committee regret
that they had not another premium to give, so that all might
have been rewarded. They certainly showed that increased
care is bestowed upon raising and training cattle, over former
years. That better ideas prevail among farmers with regard
to keeping and training their oxen, in as much as it costs no
more to keep good oxen than it does to keep poor, and that
oxen kept in good condition and well used, will do more work,
and are much more profitable, than poor and lean, ill used
ones. After giving the teams all the attention the time and
circumstances would allow, the Committee award the premi-
ums as follows. The first premium of $25 00, to the Ster-
ling team, and the second premium of $10 00, to the Ashby
team. Your Committee noticed with much pleasure and

75

satisfaction, the unyoked steers which led the last named
team, under the management of a young lad, and recommend
a gratuity to him of $2 00, and a copy of the " Agriculture
of Mass.," under the impression that such steers will make
good oxen, and such boys give good promise of being good
farmers. We cannot close this report without mentioning
the great pleasure we received in the addition of attractions to
this part of the exhibition, by viewing the splendid five
horse team of Capt. Ephraim Murdock, of Winchendon,
which for symmetry of form and for power, can scarcely be
surpassed in this region.

All which is submitted.

EZRA KENDALL.

For Committee.

MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURED ARTICLES.

Committee. — John J. Piper, Salmon W. Putnam, Fitchburg ; Henry C
Hill, Gardner ; Walter Heywood, Wm. H. Vose, Alpheus Kimball, Charles
Fessenden, Gardner S. Bur Dank, Hale W. Page, Nathan F. Ackley, Solomon
W. Ruggles, Fitchburg; Charles Winchester, Ashburnham.

The usual difficulty was experienced by your Committee
this year in examining the articles entered in their department,
many of them not being presented till the morning of exhibi-
tion, and these consequently did not receive that careful ex-
amination which their excellence really merited.

The variety of articles entered, when compared with the
extensive manufacturing industry of Worcester North, was
extremely meagre, though equal, perhaps, to that of any for-
mer exhibition. The mechanics and manufacturers of Fitch-
burg and the adjoining towns, could make a better show of
the products of their industry and skill, than any other section
of the State, of the same extent, both in respect to variety,
and excellence of workmanship. The exhibition of mechan-
ical and manufactured articles is always attended with con-

76

siderable trouble and expense : the primary object of the So-
ciety was to promote the agricultural interest, chiefly ; and
though the whole amount of premiums awarded this year,
is more than double the sum appropriated to this department
at any previous exhibition, still it is not sufficient to afford
very strong inducements to mechanics of humble means, to
incur the expense of exhibition. These and other reasons
which need not be specified have always operated unfavorably
upon the show of articles in this department. In view of the
importance of our mechanical and manufacturing interests,
the suggestion, often made, that the mechanics and manufact-
urers of Worcester North should establish a separate associa-
tion, is worthy of consideration.

Many of the articles were exhibited by persons who are
not members of the Society, and for this reason were not en-
titled to the premiums which would otherwise have been
^warded. Some of these deserve more than the passing notice,
to which the limits of this report confine us. Among them
were Melodeons, JEolians, and Pianos, from the manufactory
of J. P. & J. Whitney, of Fitchburg, which, for evenness
of touch, pureness of tone, and elegant finish, were fully
equal, if not superior to any instruments of the kind we ever
examined.

Mr. Levi Stevens, of Fitchburg, exhibited specimens of
School-house and Locomotive Bells, and Brass Castings of a
quality and finish that prove him entitled to a place in the
first rank of skilful mechanics.

Mr. Solomon W. Ruggles, of Fitchburg, exhibited his Fan-
Blower, an invention almost invaluable, and which has been
successfully applied to a far greater variety of uses than the
inventor himself contemplated. For blowing foundry, facto-
ry, steamboat, and blacksmith fires, it is now reckoned indis-
pensable. And it is equally efficient in preventing dust in
factories, drying warps, &c, &c. This machine received a
premium last year. The patent is owned by Messrs. G. D.
Harris & Co.

77

Mr. Gardner Morse, of Leominster, entered a box of beau-
tifully finished shell combs, from his manufactory, which com-
manded much admiration. They were fully entitled to a
premium, but through some mistake in the arrangement of
articles, the Committee did not know of their being entered,
until after their awards were made.

By request, the Committee examined a new signal for
Railroad Bridges and Crossings, one of which is in operation
on the Vt. & Mass. Railroad, the invention of Mr. Geo. L.
Whitney, of Fitchburg, and one which cannot fail to do much
towards preventing those fatal bridge accidents so common
on our railroads. It is a signal to be placed at a distance of
eighty or a hundred rods from any bridge, and consists of a
bell suspended by a crane directly over the track, some ten
feet higher than the top of a car. An iron rod with an elbow
at the top of the crane post, connects this bell with a shaft
running from the foot of the post under the rail, the end of
this shaft being flattened into a pedal, raised just enough to
be pressed upon by the flange of the car wheel, so that the
bell is rung directly over the head of the brakeman, by every
wheel passing over the pedal ; that is, the bell continues to
ring until the whole train has passed by the signal ; a warning
that cannot be unheeded, of the danger at hand.

It is obvious that this simple but ingenious contrivance can
be made equally successful at crossings, where frequently,
owing to the direction of the wind, or a short curve, the ap-
proach of the train is not discovered in season. To serve
this purpose, the bell may be hung over the crossing, and by
means of poles, connected by a stout wire or rod with the
shaft and pedal above described, so that the bell at the cross-
ing, will, by its continued ringing, give warning of the ap-
proach of a train, to passengers on the highways near the
crossings, in season to provide for their safety. Had this in-
vention of Mr. Whitney's been applied to the crossing on the
Camden & Amboy road, the late terrible slaughter near Bur-
lington would not have occurred.

78

Mr. Whitney has made application for a patent, and it is
to be hoped that this invention will meet with the attention
which it merits, from railroad managers.

A neat model of Willis' Improved Stump Extractor was ex-
hibited. This machine is manufactured at Orange, and its
power in removing stumps has been pretty thoroughly tested
in various sections of New England. Acres of stumps in this
immediate neighborhood have been taken out by it, and as
many of our citizens have witnessed its operation, it is perhaps
needless to add our praise of its great power and utility.

Your Committee award the following premiums : —
To Benj. Prentiss, of Fitchburg, for an elegant, light,
and beautifully finished Buggy Wagon, and a
heavier built Concord Waggon, $3 00

For strength, beauty, and service, the wagons manufactur-
ed by Mr. Prentiss, are unsurpassed by any we have recently
had the pleasure to examine, and we are informed that their
merits are fully appreciated abroad.
To the Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company, of

Gardner, for a lot of chairs, and varnish, 4 00

For elegance of design, richness of covering, the perfection
of the wood work of the frames, tasteful painting, and above
all, the exquisite finish, we do not remember ever to have seen
anything to compare with these chairs. The beautiful finish,
is attributable in a great measure to a new varnish prepared by
the Heywood Company, samples of which were shown with
the chairs at the fair. They comprise five different qualities,
anging in value from $3,50 to $1,25, all manufactured from
the best Copal Gum, and derive their acknowledged superior-
ity over ordinary varnish from a new and peculiar mode of
cleaning the gum, without the agency of alkalies. One of the
varieties is a coach varnish possessing, we are informed by
those who have used it, the qualities of hardness and durabil-
ity to an extent unequalled by any other varnish in the mar-
ket. The other varieties are designed chiefly for chairs and
furniture, and the superiority of these consists not only in their

79

hardness and durability, but especially in the exquisite polish
which they take. They will also mix with paint without los-
ing their qualities. The light painted chairs of the lot ex-
hibited, were finished by applying a mixture of the paint and
varnish, which was polished in the usual way.

This admirable varnish is rapidly coming into use wherever
it is known ; it is used by one of the large chair manufactories
of this town, and at other similar establishments in the neigh-
borhood, and those who have tried it are unanimous in the
opinion that for carriages, chairs and cabinet furniture, it will
supercede the best varnishes in the market.
To Abel Simonds & Sons, of Fitchburg, for a case of
Scythes, Hay Knives, Corn Knives, and Cane
Knives, 4 00

Most of these tools were of peculiar patterns, adapted and
intended for the farmers of the West. They were perfectly
made, and fine specimens of mechanical skill.
To Murdock and Fairbanks, of Winchendon, for a lot
of Wooden Ware, comprising Oak, Pine, and Ce-
dar Pails, Trays, Wash Boards, Barrel Covers,
Nests of Boxes, Firkins, &c, 4 00

Hingham has generally borne off the palm in the manufac-
ture of certain varieties of wooden ware, but in this collection,
were samples of beautifully finished, brass bound water pails,
so perfect that the manufacturers may confidently challenge all
competition. The same excellence characterized the other
articles in this collection.
To Russel Phelps, of Fitchburg, for Merino Shirts and

Drawers, from his factory at West Fitchburg. 3 00

To Palmer & Brown, of Fitchburg, for a collection of

beautiful Dental Work, 3 00

The Dental Work of Messrs. Palmer & Brown has received
the praise of previous Committees, and premiums from the
Society. But we find in this collection evidence of many
improvements upon that of last year, and we cannot award too
much praise to these skillful dentists, who have by their per-

80

severance and enterprise, attained to so high a degree of perfec-
tion in their art. The construction of the teeth and gums in
one entire piece, is an improvement in dentistry plainly shown
by the beautiful specimens in this collection. The great strength
required to withstand the action of mastication is here pro-
duced by the teeth and gums being carved in one entire piece,
without seam or joint, and doubly securing them by soldering
and also fusing them to the plate upon which they are set, at
the same time leaving no space under or around the base of the
teeth for the lodgment of food to become vitiated, as in the
old style, but rendering them easily kept in the most cleanly
condition.

The gum is constructed upon the inside of the teeth as well
as the outside, giving to the work a beautiful life-like appear-
ance, and also a natural form for the tongue to play upon, so
as to produce distinct enunciation.
To Asher Green, of Fitchburg, for a Patent Revolv-
ing Last Holder, manufactured at his foundry, 2 00

This machine is made wholly of cast iron. It is simple in
its operation, not expensive, and requires no more room than
the ordinary bench. It is so constructed as to enable the
workman to stand or sit, and firmly holds the last in any and
every position required for any size or kind of work, either
pegged or sewed. The last need not be removed, until the
shoe or boot is completed. By means of this machine, the
workman saves all the strength required to hold the work
while bottoming, which is the greatest part of the actual labor
of boot and shoe making. It enables him also to avoid that
cramped and unhealthy position which is yearly ruining the
health of thousands.

As there is no strap used, and the mere touch of a spring
fastens or removes the last at pleasure, much time is saved ;
and as every required tool can be used in trimming, setting up
the edge, and finishing, while the work is in the machine, it
can be done much quicker and with greater ease than by the
ordinary method. In short, the machine is a perfect shoema-
ker's vise.

81

This machine can be examined at the office of the Fitch-
burg Foundry & Machine Co.

To Putnam Machine Co., and Rollstone Foundry, for
a Six Pounder Gim, cast at the Rollstone Found-
ry, and finished at the shop of the Putnam Ma-
chine Co., 3 00
This was an impromptu specimen of the skill of our Fitch-
burg mechanics, got up for salutes on public occasions. It
weighs 1010 pounds, bore 3 3-8 inches. It was finished and
mounted in eleven hours after it was taken from the mould.
It appears to be a perfect casting, and is very handsomely finish-
ed and substantially mounted.

To J. C. Moulton, for best specimens of Daguerreotypes, 2 00
Mr. Moulton has received the first premium of the Society
for several years, and his application to his art, the improve-
ments he makes from time to time, and the degree of perfec-
tion to which he has attained, have well merited this distinc-
tion. For accuracy, clearness, tone and beauty of finish,
Mr. Moulton's Daguerreotypes are unsurpassed by any we have
ever seen.
To Asa Temple, Gardner, for a lot of handsomely

finished cane seat chairs, 1 00

To Elisha Murdock, Winchendon, for Tubs and

Pails, second premium of 2 00

To the American Rattan Co., for samples of split cane, 2 00
" J. L. Tenney, of Fitchburg, for best specimen of

boots, 1 00

To L. Burr, of Ashby, for best samples of dressed

Calfskins, 2 00

To A. Kimball & Sons, Fitchburg, for patent scythe

and snath, 2 00

To Mrs. Thomas Trees, Fitchburg, for best specimens

of Bonnets, 2 00

To Abel Manning, of Fitchburg, for well made suit of

Clothes, 1 00

11

ft 2

To P. W. Haskins, of Fitchburg, for second best Da-
guerreotypes. 1 00
To John B. Proctor, for samples of superfine flour, 4 00

GRATUITIES.

To H. O. Bean, South Groton, for Plows and Hay

Cutters, 2 00

To Geo. Blackburn & Co., for samples of Cotton Duck,

from their mills in Fitchburg, 2 00

To Mr. John Heywood, for samples of Domestic flan-
nel, 1 00

To Mrs. Hosea Green, over 70 years of age, for Flannel

woven by herself, 1 00

To A. W. Smith, for Rag Carpeting, 50

To Mrs. Dolly Heywood, for Domestic wove woolen

Frocking, 1 00

To Lucy Kendall, of Ashby, 82 years old, for a Bed-
quilt, 50

To Martin Clifford, for specimen of Rag Carpeting, 50

" Wm. Woodbury, Fitchburg, for specimens of wire

Seives, 50

To Wm. C. Wheeler, a lad of ten years, for a pair of

Bellows, 25

To W. Newton, Fitchburg, for a well made Wheel-
barrow, 1 00
All of which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN J. PIPER.
For the Committee.

OFFICERS

OF THE

WORCESTER NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR 1855.

Hon. MOSES WOOD, Fitchburg, President.
JOSHUA T. EVERETT, Princeton, \ Vice
LEVI DOWNE, Fitchburg, ] Presidents.

THOS. R. BOUTELLE, Fitchburg, Recording Sec'y.
JABEZ FISHER, Fitchburg, Corresponding Sec'y.
THOMAS C. CALDWELL, Fitchburg, Treasurer.
TRUSTEES.

ABEL F. ADAMS, Fitchburg.

MOSES M. GAGE, Fitchburg.

JOSEPH UPTON, Jr., Fitchburg.

JOEL PAGE, Fitchburg.

IVERS PHILLIPS, Fitchburg.

ISAAC B. WOODWARD, Fitchburg.

DANIEL WORKS, Fitchburg.

SAMUEL P. GIBSON, Ashby.

OHIO WHITNEY, Jr., Ashburnham.

EZRA KENDALL, Sterling.

SOLON CARTER, Leominster.

Since the Annual Meeting in February last, sixty-three new
members have joined the Society, whose admission fees have
increased the permanent fund to rising of $3100 00, entitling
it, according to the present law, to the sum of $600 00 annu-
ally, from the Treasury of the Commonwealth, which, in
addition to the income of the fund over the necessary expen-
ditures, may be appropriated to the payment of premiums.

December 5th, 1855.