xxvi REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



that reputation. That the society is prosperous is known first, by 

 the fact that it has nearly two thousand life-members actively 

 interested in promoting the objects of its organization; and second, 

 it has no debts, but an available property of $9,000, an income of 

 more than $2,000, and annually distributes in premiums about $1,500. 

 The exhibition gave clear indications of a lively and intelligent 

 interest, in every department of agriculture, manufactures and the 

 mechanic arts, and of an honorable strife for excellence in each. 

 It would be impossible to speak in detail, or as its merits deserve, 

 of each department of the exhibition. Everything seemed to have 

 its appropriate place and due attention : there was nothing super- 

 fluous, and nothing forgotten which is needed to make an exhibit 

 of the industry and intelligence of a community. The first marked 

 feature of the fair, was the very large attendance of all classes of 

 the people, the large number who were exhibitors, and the universal 

 appearance of earnest interest in the real objects of the occasion. 

 It was not a " got up " thing, a mere show. There was little man- 

 ifestation of a disposition to simply have a "jolly good time"; but 

 while life, animation and the most cheerful spirit everywhere pre- 

 vailed, there was a deep, hearty business air pervading all, which 

 indicated a purpose to make the exhibition a means of individual 

 advantage, by gathering information for home application. With- 

 out a deficiency in any department, the meeting was par excellence 

 a cattle show. There were 296 entries of neat stock, embracing 

 many hundreds of animals, and if possible the quality was more 

 praiseworthy than the number. From one town (Deerfield) there 

 was a string of 33 pairs of oxen, whose average weight was 4,068 

 pounds a pair. Specimens of pure-bred Shorthorns, Ayrshires, 

 Jerseys, Devons, Herefords, and Kerrys were on exhibition. In 

 every division of this department, in beef, milk and labor stock, 

 a critical examination showed the result of intelligent skill and 

 persistent effort to accomplish some definite object. I think it 

 would be impossible any where else in this State, to collect from an 

 equal contiguous territory, a finer show than " Little Franklin " 

 made on this occasion of the common herds of their farms, or of 

 well-bred specimens of the different breeds. The cattle are there, 

 and most of them have been bred there, not as the result of 

 chance, but the product of deliberate thought and labor, extending 

 through many years. If it be true that animals are made up from 

 the soil on which they feed, the foundation of this successful stock 

 production has been laid by the improvement or the retention of 

 its natural fertility, and care in the growth of crops of sweet, 

 nutritious grass and hay. Nature has done something to aid the 



