xxviii APPENDIX. 



liant as every one knew it would be, the last part was devoted to a 

 description of Japan and the Japanese, — their present status, 

 their interest in and eagerness for improvement, their high consid- 

 eration of this country, and the promise they give of a bright 

 future. Professor Hitchcock, W. L. Warner, and another, fol- 

 lowed in short addresses. Following the meeting in the haU, there 

 was some trotting on the track, and a foot-race. 



The second was the horse-show day. It is said to have been a 

 good show, so far as carriage-horses, roadsters, fine stallions, and 

 some other classes were concerned ; but still the show of farm- 

 horses was not so good. Not being present on that day, I gath- 

 ered these facts from a reliable source. I noticed at this fau' the 

 promptness to duty of both officers and committees. The hall had 

 needed repairs, which the society had already commenced to 

 make. This is a fine farming region ; and the farming interest 

 seems to go hand in hand with the superior opportunities of the 

 location for mental culture. This Twenty-third Annual Cattle 

 Show and Fair of Hampshire is in evidence that this society well 

 merits the continued bounty of the State. 



H. Vincent. 



HIGHLAND. 



According to appointment I attended the Twenty-third Annual 

 Exhibition of the Highland Agiicultural Society at Middlefield, 

 Sept. 13 and 14. There were a hundi-ed and eightj' head of cattle, 

 consisting of Shorthorns, Jerseys, Dutch, Devons, and Herefords, 

 grade Shorthorns prevailing. The cattle looked well, and would 

 be a credit to an}- society. The dairy stock was good, a few extra. 

 There was a good show of oxen ; and the trial of them on a very 

 heavy load of stones on a di'ag made quite an excitement. The 

 oxen exerted ever}- nerve to start the load at all. I must here put 

 in my protest against that mode of trial, and recommend that the 

 premium be for the best pair of oxen, taking into consideration 

 theu' age, training, and the ease of handhug a load on a cart. A 

 pair of oxen twelve years old, it was said, had been exhibited 

 year after year at different shows, and taken the first premium. 

 AVhy ? Because they were large, cordy oxen, used to heavy work ; 

 but the}' lost it this j'ear. There were some fine-looking oxen, not 

 so heavy and cumbersome, that I had no doubt would be better 

 farm-workers. 



Both coarse and fine wool sheep were exhibited in creditable 



