APPENDIX. xvii 



drivers, or in the make-up of the crowd, anything to suggest a cen- 

 suring remark. Rather would I speak praise and dwell upon the 

 high-toned character of the management, and the educated, well- 

 behaving aspect of the people, carrying in their countenances little 

 of the foreign look so common in the eastern part of the State, and 

 regarding the occasion as a farmer's festival to be improved, rather 

 than idl}'^ loafed away. I may remark, in conclusion, that liquor, as 

 should be presumed, was not tasted in shy hospitalitj-, nor was 

 there to be found, so far as ni}' observation or judgment informs 

 me, any but a wholesome influence pervading and animating the 

 occasion. Respectfull}' submitted, 



Joseph N. Sturtevant. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



The fiftj'-fifth exhibition of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hamp- 

 den Agricultural Societ}^ was held at Northampton, on the third 

 and fourth of October last. 



The delegate assigned not being able to be present, the president 

 of the association and member of our Board invited me to be pres 

 ent and report. 



It was an auspicious autumn morning on which the exhibition of 

 this venerable societ}' of the valley' opened, — the parent from which 

 the sturdy sons of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire East have em- 

 anated, and who delight to honor their sire by contributing largely 

 to sustain his renowned reputation. 



On entering the fair-grounds, I could but congratulate them on 

 the admirable improvement in remodelling, by adding two acres on 

 the north side of the enclosure, the moving of the hall, the arrange- 

 ment of the cattle-sheds, making ample accommodations for eighty 

 head, or more, of cattle under cover, pens and hitching-posts, with 

 a fine track, superbly graded, with an abundance of aqueduct water 

 to quench the thirst of man and beast. 



The Franklin department was on the ground the previous evening, — 

 140 head, thirteen carloads of some of her best selections, among 

 which was the herd of the Carpenter Brothers, of Shelburne, 41 head, 

 the largest herd on exhibition ; quite a proportion of thoroughbred 

 Durhams ; also 24 head by I. S. Anderson, of the same place, 

 selected from his stock of 40, embracing one pair of four-3'ear old 

 steers weighing 5,008 pounds ; two pairs of two-year old, weighing 

 3,000 pounds per pair ; one three-year old heifer, weighing 1,700 

 pounds ; a fine herd of M. I. Smith & Son, of Smith's Fevry, of 20 

 thoroughbred Durhams, and several smaller breeds equally good in 

 3* 



