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XXVIII. Agricultural Society. — The counties of Hamp- 

 shire, Hampden and Franklin formerly composed the single 

 county of Hampshire, and remain embraced in one agricultural 

 society. The funds of this society are such, that it receives 

 from the treasury of the State six hundred dollars annually, to 

 be disbursed in premiums, and in other forms, for the benefit of 

 the agricultural interests. The annual meetings and cattle-shows 

 of this society are usually held at Northampton, though they 

 have in some instances been migratory ; in one case having 

 been held at Greenfield in Franklin county, and in another at 

 West Springfield in Hampden county. This change of place for 

 holding the annual show is attended with expense and inconve- 

 nience ; and Northampton being more nearly central than any 

 other town in these counties, it is most commonly holden there. 

 The distance however of Northampton from the remoter 

 parts of the county of Franklin being in some places nearly 

 forty miles, the attendance becomes inconvenient, and much less 

 interest is taken in the matter than should be. From a jealousy, 

 likewise, too apt to grow up among neighboring villages and 

 towns, it has been insinuated, I believe without a shadow of 

 justice, that competitors living within the immediate vicinity of 

 the customary place of meeting were always particularly favor- 

 ed in their competition for premiums. But the only advantage 

 which they ever had arose, without a doubt, from their proxim- 

 ity and the greater ease with which they could bring fheir ani- 

 mals and products to the place of exhibition. It will not be de- 

 nied however that the farmers in Franklin county, to whatever 

 reason it may be attributed, have been most censurably negli- 

 y 1 gent in this case and have shown a culpable want of interest in 

 the management and success of this society. In the hands of 

 the few individuals to whom its affairs have been entrusted, its 

 management has been conscientious and faithful ; and the farm- 

 ers of Franklin county, so little labor or attention have they 

 been willing to bestow on its concerns, have neither right nor 

 reason to complain. 



The territory which it embraces is generally admitted to be 



