254 FRANKLIN SOCIETY. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The first Cattle Show and Fair of this society, held at 

 Greenfield, on Wednesday, the 25th of September last, was 

 very successful and highly encouraging to the founders of the 

 society. At an early hour in the morning, people with their 

 stock and various articles for exhibition, began to flock into the 

 village, which was soon full, almost to overflowing. 



The show of stock, though not large, was highly creditable 

 to the county. The exhibition of fruit, and of articles of do- 

 mestic manufacture in the town hall, was very fine. 



The address was delivered by Hon. Joseph T. Buckingham. 



Horses. 



Too much cannot be said of the importance of selecting the 

 breeds of horses, and those that are adapted to the age and 

 'l tasks required. Within the last forty or fifty years, the service 

 j required of the horse in this region, has in a great degree 

 changed. The horse, of tall and slender form, with light and 

 elastic limb, that then would command the greatest price, 

 would have been almost valueless during the intervening period, 

 between that and the introduction of steam conveyance. When 

 the common mode of traveling was in the chaise, barouche 

 and wagon, and the driver who exceeded six or seven miles an 

 hour was considered a Jehu, strength was the important requi- 

 site, and the breeder who sought to meet the wants of the mar- 

 ket, governed himself accordingly. Since the introduction of 

 steam, the demand upon the speed of the horse has increased at 

 least one-third, and if this society can do anything to introduce 

 a breed of horses, capable of sustaining this increased demand 

 on its powers, without breaking down under it, you will be, if 

 not benefactors to your race, at least benefactors to that noble 



