554 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



such institutions than the fertile valley of the Con- 

 necticut. It is among the enlightened farmers of 

 this region that their benefits are appreciated and 

 sought, and it is among them that these advanta- 

 ges will be improved to the utmost. Every year 

 witnesses the formation of new societies, and it 

 may not be many years before every town will 

 have its own Cattle Show, and agriculture ad- 

 vance with rapid strides. 



The exhibition of Stock, took place on the com- 

 mon near the cemetery, on the morning of Wednes- 

 day. The show was not equal to that of previ- 

 ous years. The variety was less but the quality 

 was good. 



There were 11 entries of Working Oxen, and 

 among them a pair belonging to Mr. Edmund 

 Smith, of South Hadley, attracted much attention. 

 Of Steers there were 9 entries. Of Bulls 6, many 

 of them noble animals. We noticed in particu- 

 lar, that of Mr. Dexter Allis, of Hatfield. The 

 entries of Milch Cows numbered 6 ; among them 

 was a fine cow, weighing 1640 lbs., owned by Mr. 

 Moses Breck, of Northampton, from which 10 lbs. 

 of butter per week was about the common aver- 

 age, on nothing but hay feed. Swine were fully 

 represented, and many fine specimens were pre- 

 sented. The number of entries was 10. 



For the plowing match 22 teams were entered, 

 and the contest was most spirited. The whole 

 number of entries of Domestic Goods was 151 ; 

 Garden Vegetables GO ; Fruit 532 ; Mechanic Arts 

 50 ; Fancy Articles 70 ; Bread 71 ; Butter and 

 Cheese 27 ; Fowls 54 ; Sheep 4. 



The exhibition of Horses did credit to the Soci- 

 ety, and made ample amends for what might have 

 been lacking in the Stock department. There 

 were a large number of entries, and many fine an- 

 imals were presented for premiums. 



The address, by Mr. Gould, of Hudson, N. Y., 

 was a practical, sound, thorough mingling of sci- 

 ence with the most common employment of the 

 farm. It was highly scientific, yet at the same 

 time so practical in its bearing, as to be under- 

 stood by every person present, and even though 

 the terms were forgotten, the practical deductions 

 from their use were so stated as to be understood 

 and remembered for future practice. His subject 

 was "the germination and growth of Indian Corn." 



At the dinner-table, speeches were made by 

 Secretary Goriiam, who spoke in an eloquent man- 

 ner of the need of scientific agriculture, and closed 

 with the following sentiment, which called out His 

 Excellency, Gov. Bout well. 



"Ever first in our hearts— the Commonwealth of 

 Massachusetts — represented to-day by her Gov., 

 Geo. S. Boutwell." 



The Governor spoke of the wants of a 

 ture, of societies for its promotion, and suggest- 

 ed that our local societies should be increased till 

 each town had its own, and these should form the 

 basis of the County societies. Nothing should be 

 exhibited at the Co. Societies, except what had 

 taken premiums at the local societies. The com- 

 petition should be between the town associations, 

 who should report to the parent or county socie- 

 ty. He mentioned also the establishment of the 

 Board of Agriculture, as calculated to accomplish 

 great good, and spoke in an eloquent and impres- 

 sive manner. 



Hon. Edward Everett followed in a most touch- 

 ing, eloquent, and finished speech, of which a mere 



abstract, such alone as we should be able to give, 

 would by no means do justice. He alluded most 

 beautifully to the season of the year, and the fine 

 scenery by which we were surrounded. His ride 

 in the morning through the meadows, was de- 

 scribed only as Edward Everett could do it. He 

 alluded to several important requisitions needed to 

 improve our farming, as well as the means by 

 which it had already become so universally devel- 

 oped. He alluded in most glowing terms to the 

 connection of Manufactures and Agriculture, and 

 prophecied of the rapid growth of the new manu- 

 facturing city of Holyoke, — that ere the young 

 generation now coming on became wrinkled by 

 age, a population of 50,000 would be gathered 

 there. The whole address, so eloquent, so beau- 

 tiful, so chaste, chained, enraptured and charmed 

 the audience, who received it with frequent bursts 

 of applause. At its close, the Secretary offered a 

 sentiment complimentary to Lieut. Gov. Cushman, 

 who was speaking when we left. — Amherst Ex- 

 press. 



For the Ifew England Farmer. 

 EXPLANATION. 



Mr. Editor : — Dear Sir, — Devoting my life to 

 the advancement of the farming interest by every 

 honorable means, I am unwilling to stand in the 

 wrong before your readers, as I am placed by your 

 correspondent in giving an account of the Fair and 

 Cattle Show of the Berkshire Agricultural Society. 

 He says : — 



"I forgot to mention that the society were very 

 much disappointed in the scientific report that 

 they had expected from Dr. Lee, of Washington, 

 by his failure to appear. Here let me say, that 

 those societies which are content with the first cut 

 only, from abroad, made a great mistake. The Ad- 

 dress should be a part of the County Show, as 

 much as any other part of the exhibition, and those 

 societies act wisely, who limit their appointments 

 to citizens of their own county. In so doing they 

 encourage their own citizens to qualify themselves 

 to make good addresses. I have heard as good ag- 

 ricultural addresses from veteran hard-handed far- 

 mers, as I ever heard from any college-learned gen- 

 tleman. I have m >re confidence in their instruc- 

 tion. I would not undervalue gentleman farmers , 

 but I confidently sa}-, no man can thoroughly un- 

 derstand and teach the business of cultivating the 

 soil, who does not engage practically in it with his 

 own hands." 



The "disappointment" above referred to, arose 

 from the fact that the invitation to address the 

 society was verbal, and the understanding on my 

 part that a written notice of the time of holding 

 the Fair was to be sent to me. The worthy Pres- 

 ident of the society had a different impression, 

 •lid not write, and the time of the Exhibition passed 

 by without my knowing that I had, seemingly, 

 failed to meet my engagement. 



Having made a personal explanation, allow me 

 to add a few words of comment on the pointed sug- 

 gestions contained in the paragraph above quoted, 

 which imply that some farmers are "gentlemen," 

 and that some are not, as a class. Antagonism 

 of this character, between cultivators of the soil, 

 should not exist ; and the spirit that cherishes it 

 is alike unhappy, unjust, and unwise. To give to 

 agricultural improvement a divided support, is not 

 enough; it pre-eminently deserves the cor" I and 



