206 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND HAMPDEN AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



The thirty second anniversary of this society, was held at 

 Northampton, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 9th and 10th 

 of October last. This was the first time the society have had 

 a suitable hall for the exhibition of domestic manufactures, 

 specimens of the mechanic arts, fruits, vegetables, &c. The 

 Town Hall presented a very attractive appearance. The lower 

 hall of the building was devoted to the exhibition of stoves, 

 agricultural implements and poultry. The upper and large hall 

 was occupied with the handiwork of the ladies, the products 

 of the mechanic arts, fruits, vegetables and the like. The first 

 thing that struck the eye on entering the hall was a splendid 

 display of fruits, presented under the auspices of the Northamp- 

 ton Horticultural Club. It covered two tables about sixty feet 

 long, and occupied seveii hundred plates. The greater propor- 

 tion of specimens, however, was that of apples, comprising an 

 almost endless variety, and all sizes, from the monstrous pippin 

 down to the little red-cheeked lady apple. There were also a 

 large number of fine samples of pears, and some good speci- 

 mens of grapes ; but the plates of peaches were few, the time 

 for that description of fruit having passed. The exhibition of 

 flowers was also meagre, the nipping frost of a few nights be- 

 fore having cut ofi" the few that might have survived the decay 

 of autumn. 



Of the productions of the household, the exhibition was very 

 good. The dairy was represented by sixteen beautiful speci- 

 mens of butter, every one of which reflected great credit upon 

 the hands that made them. Of cheese, there were but four 

 entries. On another table, as a very natural accompaniment to 

 these articles, were thirty or forty loaves of bread entered for 

 premium. This was the first time that premiums had been 

 ofiered on the production of the " staff" of life," and the com- 

 petition in the article was very gratifying to the public. 



