EEPORTS OF DELEGATES. 325 



An able, interesting, and most valuable address was delivered 

 by Sanford Howard, Esq., editor of the " Boston Cultivator," 

 on practical agriculture, and was most earnestly listened to by 

 at least two thousand people. 



In conclusion, I must express my thanks to the officers of the 

 society for their kind attention, and particularly to Mr. Bush- 

 nell, of Sheffield, the delegate from this society to this Board, 

 for his hospitable and kind attention. 



Paoli Lathrop. 



HOOSAC VALLEY. 



The third annual fair and cattle show of the Hoosac Valley 

 Agricultural Society was held on the 22d and 23d of September. 

 The first day the weather was not very favorable ; the equinoctial 

 storm clearing off during the niglit before, it was followed by a 

 cold, windy day, and the ground being very damp, made it 

 quite unpleasant being out ; so that the attendance was not 

 large. 



The whole number of entries of domestic animals was some 

 twenty less than last year, though the quality in most cases good, 

 and in some superior. There were a number of thorough-bred 

 animals, — the Shorthorns taking the lead in numbers, with a 

 few Devons. I noticed one very fine Ayrshire bull. Most 

 of the stock exhibited showed the marks of the thorough-bred 

 bulls very plainly, the grades being principally Shorthorns. 



This society offers but one premium for thorough-bred bulls, 

 and that without regard to breed. This I think an error, as 

 there is not much, if any, more propriety in putting a thor- 

 ough-bred Shorthorn and a thorough-bred Devon bull in the 

 same class and bringing the two into comparison, than there 

 would be in doing the same with a stallion and a jackass. 



There was a good show of sheep ; though not large in num- 

 bers, the quality was thought very fine by sheep fanciers, the 

 long-wool predominating. The show of swine was small, but 

 good in quality. Poultry was well represented. 



The number of entries in the hall was considerably smaller 

 than last year, but the articles exhibited did great credit to the 



