HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 235 



ed the custom of society in this respect. The numerous re- 

 tainers of the feudal lords, who held their lands by the tenure 

 of performing knight's service, were required to keep horses, 

 and they gradually compelled these animals to support them- 

 selves by serving at the plough or wagon. Agriculture, there- 

 fore, both in Europe and in this country, has every where em- 

 braced the breeding of horses. It is said, that at the south and 

 southwest, mules are fit for service from three years old to thir- 

 ty ; that the mule lives more than twice as long as the horse in 

 that climate, and that the mule is more hardy than the horse ; 

 that in the matter of food, the mule will live and thrive on less 

 than one half it takes to keep a horse. 



The committee are of the opinion that the south and south- 

 west, with their slave labor, are compelled to use the mule for 

 the want of that tact to train and drive the horse, which is ab- 

 solutely necessary. It would look like retrograde civilization 

 for New England farmers, Absalom like, to substitute the mule 

 for that noble animal the horse. It is not the whole object of 

 farming, to count dollars and cents, but to make life pleasant. 

 A good team depends much upon the man or boy that drives 

 it. A pair of oxen or a horse which has a pleasant and good 

 natured driver, are almost invariably well-disposed and man- 

 ageable animals. The committee think it creditable to the 

 farmers, that they begin to comprehend distinctly the true idea 

 of progress. Little can be done for them by others, till a spring 

 is touched in their own hearts, till they appreciate the true no- 

 bility of their occupation. This being done, they cannot fail. 

 Under this impulse they would find new time and strength for 

 their high calling, and would not only regenerate themselves, 

 but the whole community. 



DAVID MOSELY, Chairman. 



Poultry. 



The whole number of entries was ninety-three, embracing a 

 total of not far from five hundred fowls, of more than ordinary 



