APPENDIX. xvii 



efficient secretary, did all in their power to open to us the work 

 they were doing and show us the effects of their labor. 



We could not escape the impression that the bounty of the State 

 has here for many years, through this society, been encouraging 

 that healthy competition among farmers, and arousing that interest 

 in their calling, which is apparent in the well cultured farms of this 

 locality, and its good results manifest in the improved stock they 

 exhibit. We believe it will still be an instrumentality to carry for- 

 ward to completion those improvements in agriculture so necessary 

 to our rapid increase in population and so much to our comfort and 

 the health of our men and women, the noblest products of our 



somewhat sterile Commonwealth. 



Wm. Knowlton. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



An evening ride of three hours took us from Boston to Palmer, 

 where we arrived at midnight. A short night's rest and we took the 

 early morning train for Amherst that we might attend the cattle 

 show that was to be held on the 26th and 27th of September last. 

 Though dai-k clouds hung heavy over all, yet the way on either side 

 was ablaze with the glory of the bright autumnal foliage. Here a 

 scarlet maple standing out in bold relief, with its gorgeous crimson, 

 scarlet and gold ; the sugar maple, less intense in color, but none the 

 less beautiful ; the hornbeam, the brilliant sumach, the scarlet oak, 

 the high-bush blueberry, the woodbine with its matchless color 

 climbing aloft on some evergreen, and peeping out here and there 

 amid the dark foilage of the tree which formed the most appropri- 

 ate back ground for the beautiful picture that was presented to our 

 view. These were the attractions along the railway, compared 

 with which all other things were unworthy of notice. About 

 nine o'clock we reached glorious old Amherst, with its beautiful 

 hills and valleys, its noble elms and gayly dressed maples, its col- 

 lege buildings, old and new, grandly crowning the hill-top. Beauti- 

 ful for situation is this goodly town. The cattle show was to be 

 opened at eleven o'clock and the farmers, for miles around, seemed 

 to be on the road for the fair grounds with their cattle, horses, 

 sheep, swine and poultry, or the products of the dairy, garden and 

 orchard. Col. W. S. Clark, the accomplished President of the 

 Agricultural College, who is always in the right place at the right 

 time, was ready to show us what there was to be seen. 



The day was not pleasant, having shown signs of rain all the 

 morning; still there was a most excellent show of Shorthorn, 

 3* 



