AGEICULTUEE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



COMMITTEE REPORTS. 



ON STOCK IN GENERAL. 

 [Franklin-county Society.] 



The exhibitions of neat-cattle and other animals at our 

 annual cattle-shows have for years past been so similar in 

 numbers and in quality, that the reports on "the stock in 

 general " have become successively repetitions of favorable 

 notices of the animals and their owners. A marked excep- 

 tion to this, however, was the report of Mr. Oakman, two 

 years ago, admirable for its fulness and its sound suggestions. 



Not much remains to be said this year beyond a brief 

 notice of the stock, and a reiterated call upon the farmers in 

 the county to continue in the improvements they have made, 

 and to devote more attention to three or four important sub- 

 jects, as sheep-husbandry, the dairy, wheat-growing, the hay- 

 crop, and poultry. 



The weather on both days of the fair was splendid, — a 

 glorious termination of one of the most prosperous seasons 

 with which we were ever favored, — and was a strong and 

 successful inducement for the farmers to bring out their 

 cattle. 



Good pasture and abundant crops of all kinds had brought 

 the animals to a fine condition, filling the hearts of their 

 owners with cheerfulness, and their pockets with substantial 

 evidence of success, and lightening their labors with pro- 

 spective visions of great gain from the ingathering harvest, 

 which now has realized their full anticipations. 



Our beautiful and convenient grounds, with ample accom- 

 modations, an admirable track, a dry and level surface, with 

 a full supply of running water, never gave greater satisfac- 

 tion than on those two days. 



About nine o'clock the stock begins to come, though some 



