seys in the immediate vicinity, we felt sorry for the public that there was so little competition. It was like a race with one entry; and, though our friend was not at fault, the honors were too easily won. The same was measurably true of the Swiss exhibition of Mr. Aldrich, the Shorthorns of Mr. Slater, and the Devons of Mr. Dodge. Among the Ayrshires there was more competition. We observed that twenty yoke of cattle from Sutton took both the town team premiums, because the offer of the society simply spoke of the best ten pairs. There were ten pairs of fancy-trained steers, all remarkable for their learning, some of them drilled by minors, and some of them that travel for a living, and make a business of drawing premiums at other fairs. We think it a question how far this should be carried.

The other departments of the exhibition were also good, and very creditable. About a hundred swine of all ages were there, and well fed, regardless of the decline in pork. We noticed some novelties in the line of agricultural machinery, and a single exhibitor who had twenty different plough-patterns and fifty varieties of other tools.

The horse-exhibition, comprising a goodly array of colts and carriage-horses, and some fast steppers, was held on the second

day.

We were particularly pleased with the extensive dinner arrangements and the social festivities afterwards, which characterized both days. Ex-Gov. Chamberlain of South Carolina, a native of Brookfield, was the chief speaker the last day; and I see a brief abstract of his address in the society's Annual Report. Take it all in all, the exhibition was a good one; and its tendency appeared to be that which we all have at heart, the promotion of agriculture in the heart of the Commonwealth. Notwithstanding the society's large debt, they offered $1,600 in premiums, and paid out $1,359. To the president of the society, who is also mayor of the city, and to Mr. Hadwen, your delegate is under obligations of gratitude for the many courtesies received during his visit. J. N. BAGG.

WORCESTER WEST.

This society held its Annual Fair at Barre on Sept. 27 and 28. The first day opened fine; and the attendance was unusually large. At the ploughing-match sixteen teams, eight each of jhorses and oxen, competed for the prize; and they did good work. The

show of neat-stock was the best ever exhibited at that place, the number of animals entered being four hundred and fifty-five. Of this number, one hundred and sixty-two were cows giving milk. About one-eighth of the whole number consisted of pure breeds, showing that the farmers of that section are looking to their best interest by improving their farm-stock.

oxen.

The town of Petersham exhibited a string of thirty pairs of good The show of horses, sheep, swine, and poultry, was unusu ally good; and the display of fruits and vegetables in the hall was fully up to other years, while the exhibition of butter and cheese was excellent. The Barre Central Cheese Company exhibited a cheese weighing 1,015 pounds, which took 9,272 pounds of milk. There was also a good display of mechanical arts and agricultural implements.

The interest the ladies take in the affairs of this society was manifested by the beautiful floral display, and its tasteful arrange

ment.

On the second day the weather was stormy and unpleasant, which greatly diminished the receipts. We judge, however, from examining the society's report, that it stands financially much better than some of the societies in the State.

MILO J. SMITH.

WORCESTER NORTH-WEST.

The Eleventh Annual Exhibition of the Worcester North-west Agricultural and Mechanical Society occurred at Athol, Oct. 2, 8, and 4. There were many things to admire, and few to criticise. I saw, by the name of this young and prosperous society, that every class of industry was invited to participate in its exhibitions. This was manifest in the articles on exhibition in the hall, and the stock so systematically arranged about the beautiful grounds, as well as in the immense crowd of people who had come from far and near to enjoy this annual festival.

The morning of the first day was occupied in making the necessary entrées of stock and articles for the exhibition. Then came the ploughing-match, one of the most beautiful and profitable features of an agricultural fair: I am sorry to see it is abandoned by so many of the societies of the State. In this match there were several horse-teams and ox-teams which competed for the premiums; and, notwithstanding the roughness of the ground, all plainly showed that they were used to the business, both ploughmen and teams.

The exhibition of working-oxen and steers was good. A pair of workers owned by Mr. Harvey Goddard of Orange was particularly admired by the cattle men for their many fine points; and yet the honorable committee awarded this beautiful pair the third premium; thus showing how men differ in their judgment. There were also on exhibition many fine pairs of fat cattle: one pair, entered by A. E. Johnson of Barre, were beauties, weighing four thousand pounds, and many others were worthy of mention. But I will not particularize; suffice it to say there were enough to show conclusively that the admiration for the ox had not entirely disappeared. I was astonished when I saw the thirty-five yoke of splendid-looking cattle of the Shorthorn and Devon breeds, from the town of Phillipston, and also the sixty-five yoke of equally good cattle from Petersham, constituting the two entries of town teams. It was a most beautiful sight; and I said to myself, "If this is degeneracy, what must have been the original idea of a cattle show?" And yet we hear the cry from all parts of the State, through the press, that cattle shows have become "first-class humbugs." Now, let us see how much of a farce this cattle show was. There were in all three hundred and forty-seven head of cattle upon exhibition, consisting of bulls, milch-cows, heifers, calves, working-oxen, steers, and fat cattle. The show of sheep was small in point of numbers, but of an excellent quality.

The show of swine was unpleasant to behold, not on account of the inferiority of the animals exhibited, but rather from the manner in which they were exhibited. We noticed some very fine specimens of the Essex bred, exhibited by Mr. Joseph S. Hinkly of Barre; also of the Poland China, bred by Mr. Henry S. Minor of Phillipston. Messrs. William A. Childs and Luther Crawford of New Braintree exhibited some very fine Berkshires. Mr. George W. Drury of Athol had two very fat hogs upon exhibition, of the Chester White breed; and Mr. E. A. Marsh completed the show of swine with a beautiful litter of pigs. All these fine animals were confined in wagons, with but a slight (if any) protection from the rays of the sun, when the thermometer stood at about seventy degrees above zero in the shade. This is one of the things connected with the show which I would criticise. The officers of the society should provide suitable pens in their grove, erected and constructed with a view to make the animals on exhibition as comfortable as possible, and then require all exhibitors to place their animals in such pens.

The show of poultry was the best I ever saw at a show not devoted entirely to the exhibition of poultry and pet stock. It would take too much time for me to give the names of the different varieties and breeds. I will make the broad statement, however, that nearly all of

the leading breeds of poultry were on exhibition. Among the many extensive exhibitors in this department we noticed the names of P. and E. Johnson of Barre (boys); and the success of their efforts to compete with those older in this department should stimulate other youths to enter the field. Every society should have a Youths' Department. Only $35.50 were awarded for poultry; and it seemed to me to be a very small sum, considering the very large number of exhibits. The raising of poultry should be encouraged to the fullest extent; and a much larger sum should be offered and awarded for such an exhibition as your delegate witnessed at this fair.

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The Agricultural Horse Show was good in all its departments. Mr. B. W. Washburn of Barre exhibited a fine pair of matched carriage-horses. In the classes of Gents' Driving Horses and Family Horses there were many entries and some beautiful animals; still, somehow or other, an "old track-horse" would compete in each of these classes, and, of course, pass under the wire a neck ahead," and carry off the first premium, notwithstanding the instructions, "speed not to govern." The show of breeding-mares and colts would do credit to any society in the State; but that of stallions was not what one would reasonably expect, in point of numbers. The stallion that was the most admired was Mr. S. F. Twitchell's Gold Finder. He was a show of himself. The exhibition in the hall was good; that of fruit, remarkable, for this the off-year; there being on exhibition three hundred and seventy-five plates of fruit, embracing apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and quinces.

There was also a fine display of vegetables and other farm products.

The collection of fancy articles was a very large one, and systematically arranged for the convenience of the judges as well as the visitors.

I was surprised not to see more agricultural implements upon exhibition. I think a mowing-machine, plough, and horse-rake completed the list.

The numerous articles on exhibition in the hall remained during two days of the fair, while the cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, and all the horses not entered for the "races," were homeward bound at the close of the first day's exhibition; and this ended what seemed to many the agricultural part of the fair.

I certainly should be remiss in my duty, did I not mention the society's dinner as one of the pleasant and profitable attractions of the fair. The dinner was fine; the tables filled to their fullest capacity: the speeches were practical, and participated in by many.

The second day of the fair was the Horse Day; and, as is customary, a much larger crowd of people assembled upon the grounds than on the day previous. In addition to the fact of its being the Horse Day, it was announced that the president of the society, Mr. Jerome Jones, would be in attendance, with a large number of distinguished men from Boston as invited guests. This, no doubt, attracted many that would not otherwise have come. Among the distinguished guests of the society was the Hon. W. A. Simmons, collector of the port of Boston; Hon. Stephen N. Stockwell of "The Boston Journal;" and John C. Wyman, Esq., of New York; all of whom added pleasure as well as profit to the occasion.

The third day of the fair was a Benefit Day, and everybody was expected to pay an admission-fee. The show was what one might call a variety entertainment:

the programme was made up to suit every one of the vast multitude. There was to be baseball playing, horse-trotting, man-running; and, last but not least, the whole affair closed with the band tournament, in which five bands competed for the prizes; Leominster Band receiving the first prize, the Fitchburg, second, and Gardner, third. Your delegate saw nothing during the fair of an unlawful character.

This society has a debt of about eight thousand dollars hanging over it; and this, no doubt, stimulates the officers and members to great exertions each year to cancel some portion of its indebtedness; and this year, I am happy to say, was not an exception to the rule, they having reduced the debt over a thousand dollars.

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I trust it will be interesting to the members of this Board to know the amount of money awarded by this society in the different departments at their exhibition. The amount offered, awarded, and actually paid out, for farm improvements, was only twentyfour dollars, thus showing that the farms are either in a high state of cultivation, or little interest is manifested in this department. The amount awarded for farm stock was five hundred and twentyfive dollars, and for farm products over a hundred dollars. The amount awarded for agricultural implements was twelve dollars, a sum far too large, considering the implements shown. The amount awarded for trotting-horses was six hundred and forty dollars, a large share of which was received as entrance-money; and $422.50 was awarded for mechanical inventions, domestic manufactures, &c., swelling the amount of money awarded to nearly eighteen hundred dollars for premiums and gratuities at this fair. This is a large amount; and the question comes to many, "Does it pay?" I answer, "Yes;" and I believe every one connected with the Worcester North-west Agricultural and