POULTRY. 241 



permit us to group tliem as a family circle, in regard to which 

 it may be truly said, that Hampden has never exhibited clearer 

 evidences of improvement in this department of her exhibitions, 

 than was our lot to record on the present occasion. Many 

 mothers of a higher order of creation might here have learned 

 from observation, the important fact, that cleanliness and ma^ 

 ternal discipline add greatly to the appearance and good be- 

 havior of their offspring ; and even Barnum might have been 

 flattered with such a "Baby-Show." 



There remains still to be noticed a distinct family, holding an 

 intermediate relation to those around them, and which, under 

 different circumstances, would not improperly be considered 

 sophomores — something between the freshmen and the seniors. 

 These were ofiFered as weaned pigs, and their age stated at five 

 months. They were e^^dently of that Victoria stock, whose 

 reputation has become a " fixed fact," as the society's premium 

 list for the last ten years will testify, thereby precluding the 

 necessity of further comment upon their history or peculiarities. 



And now, having fulfilled our duties, we respectfully drop 

 our tale and deduce our moral, to wit : that, as the executive of 

 the society has been selected to present the tale, it may be a. 

 legitimate hint to every member to use all proper effort to 

 enable himself, at the close of the year, to make both ends meet. 



Francis Brewer, Chairman. 



POULTRY. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The appointment of a " committee on poultry," with author- 

 ity to award the sum of $40 in undefined gratuities, was prob- 

 ably never dreamed of by the venerated founders of this society. 

 This department of modern agricultural shows was neither 

 alluded to in the annual address or proceedings for a good num- 

 ber of years, and the yeomen of Essex, in those days, undoubt- 

 edly endorsed the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Deane, in his " New 



31* 



