REPORTS OF DELEGATES. Sll 



tables and the finest fruits, very successful efforts have been 

 made in this section. 



On Wednesday, at an early hour, an exhibition of working 

 oxen took place, which would have done credit to any society 

 in the State. There were seventy-five pairs of as good cattle, 

 well adapted to farm work and to economical feeding, as are 

 usually to be foiind. The ploughing, for competition, in which 

 there were eleven entries, eight of oxen and three of horses, 

 was done with great skill, and with as much expedition as is 

 compatible with good work. 



After these exhibitions of practical agriculture, the literary 

 and festive exercises of the occasion commenced. Without 

 dwelling in detail upon the merits of this part of the exhibition, 

 it seems proper and important to say a word in support of every 

 effort to encourage the intellectual activity of our people, and 

 to afford them frequent means of social intercourse. A public 

 address, a public dinner, music, and speeches at the tables, 

 should never be neglected on an anniversary like that which 

 calls the farmers together to exhibit their flocks, and herds and 

 products. It is not to be supposed that on such an occasion no 

 words of practical wisdom will be dropped by the speakers. But 

 even were this the case ; were agricultural topics entirely 

 neglected, and were the hours spent in displays of oratory upon 

 less substantial subjects, the enlivening influences which attend 

 even this mode of intellectual exercise, form one of the most use- 

 ful parts of such occasions. It is to be hoped that in the zeal for 

 agricultural advanceriient, the healthy enjoyments of the day 

 will not be forgotten. They were not omitted at Milford ; and 

 they should not be laid aside by any society in the 

 Commonwealth. 



Geo. B. Loring. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



As delegate from this board, I attended the annvial exhibition 

 of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society, 

 held on the society's grounds in Northampton, on the first and 

 second days of October. 



