Annual Report (1905-06) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ...circumstances, as the first afternoon was lost in a flood of rain, and the second day was graced by a most boisterous gale. Charles G. Davis. MIDDLESEX. As a delegate from the State Board of Agriculture, I attended the sixty-eighth annual exhibition of the Middlesex Society, holden at Concord, on the 20th of September. And although I was pleased and highly entertained by some portions of the show, 1 was not, as a whole, very favorably impressed by it. Fears of the cattle scourge prevented the exhibition of neat stock, and the horses, though respectable in numbers, looked mean, and I doubt not looked as they felt, for being compelled to exhibit themselves in a pouring rain. In the department of breeding mares and colts the show was good, indicating that the members of the society are interested and successful in this branch of stock raising. A ploughing match by seven competitors, was entered into witli spirit, and excellent work performed in spite of the weather; but spectators seemed to prefer shelter from the storm, rather than the excitement and instruction of the trial, and a thorough drenching/ A majority of the instruments used were the Michigan double plough, and I conclude by it, that deep, thorough pulverizing of the soil, is a cardinal doctrine of the farmers of Middlesex. Of swine there were but two entries; but two animals on the ground, and these not for breeding purposes, but for the butcher. Sheep there were none, but poultry were respectable in numbers, and excellent in quality. I noticed some most beautiful geese of the Bremen variety. In the department of mechanics the show was meagre. The cash sheet of the society showed that the number of spectators on the ground was small compared with former years. But the inclement...