14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It was, however, felt that it covered too much territory, 

 and that Northampton, the usual place of holding the show 

 of stock, was too remote for the farmers of Franklin County 

 to drive their cattle for exhibition. Accordingly the Frank- 

 lin-county Agricultural Society was incorporated in 1850, 

 held its first cattle-show in Greenfield Sept. 25 of that year, 

 where its shows have since continued to be held, as expo- 

 nents of agricultural prosperity, liberal display, and a sound 

 public sentiment. 



In 1860-62 the society purchased ten acres and a half of 

 land in this village, most admirably adapted for the purposes 

 of a show-ground, except that it was hardly large enough. 

 It was a well-turfed, smooth meadow, bounded on the south 

 side by the highway ; while on the northern side, hills, rising 

 with a gentle slope some seventy-five feet, swept around, 

 forming a beautiful and convenient amphitheatre. Stands, 

 sheds, and pens were erected, and a short track laid out. 

 These grounds were used by us with great satisfaction till 

 the construction of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad over 

 part of the land made it necessary for us to purchase else- 

 where, and we accordingly bought a tract of thirty-three 

 acres on an elevated plain, about half a mile south-west from 

 the railway station, with a dry, sandy, well-drained soil, and 

 having within its limits a very pretty grove, and being very 

 accessible. This land has been enclosed with a high, sub- 

 stantial fence, an admirable track of a full half-mile con- 

 structed (said to be the best in the State), a hall, covered 

 seats, horse-stables, and cattle-pens built, and running water 

 introduced, the whole at a cost of between nine and ten 

 thousand dollars. We now number about twenty-five hun- 

 dred members, have a small debt of about fifteen hundred 

 dollars, which is annually reduced about five hundred dol- 

 lars. We pay from seven hundred to eight hundred dollars 

 for premiums each year. 



Our show is strictly an agricultural one, although our 

 receipts would be much increased by the attractions of 

 balloon-ascensions, foot-races, base-ball games, horse-trotting, 

 and pool-selling. We have generally believed it better to 

 hold to the words of our charter, and the spirit of our act of 

 incorporation, for the improvement of the agriculture of the 

 county. 



