xxx REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



DEERFIELD VALLEY. 



The undersigned, appointed a delegate from this Board to attend 

 the fair of the Deerfleld Valley Agricultural Society, holden at 

 Charlemont, on the 29th and 30th of September, 1874, has attended 

 to that duty, and submits the following report. 



As soon as I arrived on the ground, I was convinced that the 

 people. of Western Franklin appreciated a cattle-show, and were 

 determined, "rain or shine," to have a good time now, whether they 

 ever reached the "good time coming" or not. 



This fourth exhibition of the farmers of this society was a success, 

 although the entry of stock was not as large as on some former occa- 

 sions. This society, only a four-year-old, is young and enterprising, 

 and yet it is not so vigorous that it cannot be affected by the elements. 



The number of entries of neat-stock was 100 ; horses, 76 ; sheep, 

 40 ; for the hall, 493. Total entries, 817. 



The first prize of town teams was awarded to Buckland, for 20 

 yoke of oxen. The five largest pairs averaged 3,639 pounds. It 

 was a strong team. 



Herds were entered by L. S. Brown, of Shelburne ; E. C. Hawks, 

 of Charlemont ; G. W. Truesdell, of Shelburne, and G. P. and W. W. 

 Carpenter, of Shelburne ; and prizes were awarded in the order 

 mentioned. 



The thoroughbred bulls on exhibition (mostly Durhams) did credit 

 to that renowned breed, and showed that their breeders had an eye 

 to their ability to line their sides with adipose tissue and the wallets 

 of their owners with greenbacks. 



The dairy cows on exhibition gave evidence of good breeding, 

 while the butter and cheese was proof positive that the dairymaids 

 were descended from no inferior race. 



Flocks of sheep of the fine-wool, the middle-wool and the long- 

 wool varieties, came flocking in from the mountains and hillsides of 

 Deerfleld, interesting to the beholders, profitable to the possessors 

 and creditable to the exhibitors. 



And while we note the bovines, we would not fail to notice the 

 porcines. Here were assembled the renowned Chester whites and 

 the celebrated Suffolk males, to which premiums were awarded ; 

 while the committee did not forget the maternal race, with progeny 

 too numerous to mention, in making up their awards. 



The contributors to the exhibition of fowls did themselves credit, 

 while the various breeds vied with each other for premiums, and 

 each chanticleer stood ready to crow for either part}* victorious at 

 the approaching election. 



