FRANKLIN HARVEST CLUB. 15 



Nearly all of the modern breeds of cattle have had the en- 

 .couragement of the society's premiums ; but only the Short- 

 horns and Jerseys have retained any strong hold among our 

 farmers. 



Of sheep which we breed to a considerable extent, the 

 Saxonies and Merinos have had their day with us, and have 

 passed away, giving place to the Downs, the Cotswolds, and 

 American Merinos, — sheep for feeding, and for raising early 

 lambs, without much regard to the fineness of the fleece. 



Of swine we have had the Berkshire, the Chester Whites, 

 the Essex, the Magie or Poland China, and the Suffolks, all 

 of which have breeders and defenders. Attention has re- 

 cently turned to the Yorkshires, some of which were im- 

 ported by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agricul- 

 ture, as a very superior breed. 



In 1870 the farmers of the western part of the county, 

 feeling that they were too far from the county-seat, and 

 separated by a mountain-range, organized themselves, with- 

 out any opposition from the parent society, into another, 

 called the " Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society," compris- 

 ing some eight or nine towns. They purchased seventeen 

 acres of beautifully located land in the village of Charle- 

 mont, erected convenient buildings, and have from their 

 commencement, in 1870, held regular and successful fairs. 

 In each of these societies is a farmers' institute, which meets 

 regularly through the winter, having essays, and free and 

 interesting discussions. 



The Franklin Harvest Club was organized at Greenfield 

 in 1859, and, though originally intended to be confined to 

 twelve members in the immediate vicinity, has grown to 

 large dimensions, numbering some thirty members, whose 

 farms extend from the State line of Vermont on the north, 

 to that of Connecticut on the south. 



This club meets fortnightly at the homes of the different 

 members, where, after inspection and criticism of the prem- 

 ises and stock, agricultural papers, often of a high order, are 

 read, discussions and experiences follow, and the proceed- 

 ings are closed by a plain farmer's dinner. 



That the influence of this club during its twenty years of 

 existence has been greatly beneficial, not only to the mem- 

 bers, but to a wide extent beyond, cannot be doubted. 



