APPENDIX. xi 



mercial and manufacturing cit}' of Springfield. Otiier interests in 

 tliat locality have got possession of the farms of its original mem- 

 bers, which are worth now b}' the foot more than the}' then were by 

 the acre, and agricultural interests and labor has been obliged to 

 seek other fields for their development. Its valuable property in 

 grounds and buildings has really become the pleasure and public 

 driving park of the citizens, a place for promenading, for cit}' shows 

 and exhibitions. For several j-ears a sharp but smothered contest 

 has been going on between these city interests and influences and 

 the society respecting the control, management and use of the 

 gi'ounds. A more than usually exciting contest, during the last 

 winter and spring, resulted in victory to city interests, and a liberal 

 olfer being made as an inducement, the society, this 3'ear, held its 

 exhibition on the public common of the old town of Westfield. 

 This exhibition was eminently an old-fashioned cattle-show with all 

 its features of interested but genuine agriculturists-stock and farm 

 products on the first da}', and breeding horses and colts, agricultural 

 address and public farmers' dinner with common-sense speeches 

 the second day. The only thing needed to make the spectator 

 think he was living the good old times over again, was the ploughing- 

 match, and the only improvement of modern times that was missed 

 was the fickle, excitable crowd who see nothing and care for nothing 

 but "horse," the lank, lean, scrawny equiues imported from distant 

 race-courses, and the peculiar and not very elevating slang of the 

 turf in conversational circles. The stock exhibition was good and 

 eminently modern, with specimens and herds of the improved 

 breeds reared by their exhibitors, and gi\ing indications of nice dis- 

 crimination and skill on the part of their owners. Formerly the 

 town of "Westfield was really famous for its fat cattle, and its 

 farmers yet boast of their laurels, but though all other kinds of 

 stock were abundant in the exhibition, fat cattle were entirely want- 

 ing, indicating a great change in the leading pursuit of Hampden 

 farmers or a backwardness in putting them on exhibition. In the 

 departments of growing horses, milking stock, grains, roots, vege- 

 tables, fruit, domestic manufactures and agricultural implements and 

 machines, the exhibition was praiseworthy. Great interest seemed 

 to be taken by spectators in every part of the show, which could not 

 fail to exert a salutary influence through an extensive farming com- 

 munity. The membership of the society has been largely increased 

 during the past year, its funds have been augmented, and its ability 

 and opportunity for carrying forward the work of its organization 

 has been materially advanced. 



Levi SxocKBPaDGE. 



