HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN, &c. 125 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



This Society held its annual Cattle Show and Fair at North- 

 ampton on the 13th and 14th days of October last. The exhi- 

 bition of stock was more full than any other, and far surpassed 

 the most sanguine expectations of the public. The long teams 

 of working cattle from Southampton, Easthampton, Williams- 

 burgh, Hadley, South Hadley, and Conway, reflected great credit 

 upon those towns, and formed a body of these useful animals, 

 which would have done honor to any section of the country. 

 The number and excellence of the milch cows presented, far 

 exceeded that of former exhibitions, and was highly creditable 

 to the Connecticut Valley. The whole number of horned cattle 

 entered for premium, was 500 ; of horses 94 ; and of all ani- 

 mals presented at the show 614. 



The address was delivered by Professor Charles W. Shepard. 

 The subject was stated to be, in substance — the deficiency of 

 scientific acquirements in agricultural knowledge, and their ne- 

 cessity to a higher success in agriculture. As a means of pro- 

 moting scientific knowledge among the agricultural population, 

 he recommended the establishment of agricultural schools. 

 At the dinner-table, remarks were made by several individuals. 

 Hon. Edward Dickinson, a former president of the society, ob- 

 served that the public addresses before the society, for a few 

 years past, were to the point of applying science to agricultural 

 improvement. To direct public attention to something definite 

 upon this subject, he offered the following vote, which was 

 adopted : — 



Voted, That this society make application to the next legisla- 

 ture, for the endowment of an institution in the Connecticut 



