1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



503 



try it upon my cows; at this time of the year, 

 generally, are full of ticks ; the result of which is 

 that the vermin have all taken their departure." 



HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 



The Annual Exhibition of this Society took 

 place in Amherst, on Wednesday, the 2Gfch of 

 October. We copy from the account prepared by 

 the Editor of the Amherst Express, and published 

 in that paper. 



" The day was as fine as any could expect, at 

 this season of the year. The number of persons 

 present was larger than on any former occasion. 

 This is an encouraging fact to all who are inter- 

 ested in the permanency, prosperity, and useful- 

 ness of this young and growing Agricultural So- 

 ciety. Though the youngest of the county Socie- 

 ties, it already numbers about 700 life members. 



The exhibition, taking it all in all, was second to 

 none that we have attended the present season. 

 Well may the officers and members of the Society 

 fejoice in the success that has crowned their efforts 

 in organizing the Hampshire Agricultural Society, 

 whose last anniversary has outshone all its former 

 exhibitions in the good qualities of the contribu- 

 tions, &c., for the Show and Fair. 



Co^//e.— There were between 300 and 400 Cat- 

 tle on exhibition. There were two strings of 

 Working Oxen — one from Hadley and one from 

 North Amherst — also Working Oxen besides en- 

 tered for premiums, some of which were exceed- 

 ingly fine — which the committee would have been 

 fla^ to have considered in awarding premiums, 

 ad they been furnished by the competitors with 

 the written statements, required in the Show Bill. 

 This remark applies to contributors in other de- 

 partments of the exhibition, which, we hope, will 

 be attended to hereafter by all who wish to be re- 

 garded as competitors for premiums. 



The Fat Cattle on exhibition were of a superior 

 quality — not surpassed by any other Siiow in the 

 State. One pair in particular, owned by Moses 

 Stebbins of South Deerfield, attracted universal at- 

 tention. 



Bulls, Cows, Steers, Heifers and Calves of the 

 various fancy bloods and natives, were numerous 

 and of good qualities. 



Horses. — The shows of horses as exhibited in 

 Amity Street, were unusually fine. 



Sheep. — The show of sheep was small. Augus- 

 tus Clark, of Granby, exhibited some fine Merino 

 ewes, imported from France. 



Poultry. — The fowl department failed to sus- 

 tain its reputation. 



Butter. — The display of butter was the best we 

 have ever seen — and this was a common remark 

 made by the visitors. 



Sweetser^s Hall. — Fruits and the Handiwork of 

 the mothers and daughters were here exhibited in 

 great profusion. Nearly 500 plates of fruits were 

 displayed on the tables. 



The Address was delivered by the Rev. F. D. 

 Huntington, of Boston. His theme was the Far- 

 mer and his relations to the School-house, Town 

 Hall, Church and Homestead. The Address was 

 emphatically the most popular and valuable to 

 which we have ever listened upon any similar 

 occasion, and is to be published. 



Dinner-Table Speeches. — The Hon. Edward 

 Dickerson, who presided at the table, made an ap- 

 propriate opening address — giving a brief histori- 

 cal sketch of the Society whose Fourth Anniver- 

 sary the occasion commemorated. Ho closed by 

 giving the following sentiment: — "The Massachu- 

 setts Board of Agriculture : We welcome its Se- 

 cretary, C. L. Flint, Esq." 



Mr. Flint spoke at considerable length upon the 

 statement, as often made, that "farming does not 

 pay," and if he did not convince his hearers that 

 it will pay, and pay wetl, when properly conduct- 

 ed, he will at least convince them that there are 

 two sides to the question, and that the friends of 

 agriculture mean to bring it forward and discuss 

 it. There is no subject which can more properly 

 occupy the thoughts and investigation of the 

 Secretary of the State Board, than that so often 

 impressed upon the people, that farming, as an 

 occupation, will not fairly remunerate those en- 

 gaged in it. He touched upon other topics of in- 

 terest, bilt we have no room for extracts. Ad- 

 dresses were also made by Mr. Howard, Editor of 

 the Boston CuUivalor, Prest. Hitchcock and Prof. 

 Fowler, and by the orator of the day. 



From the report in the Express, and verbal ao- 

 counts, we should think the Exhibition a pleasant 

 and profitable one. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 



]Mr. Editor : — It was generally understood laffc 

 winter, that several gentlemen were to be appoint- 

 ed by the Board of Agriculture, to give lectures 

 upon subjects pertaining to the theory or practice 

 of this most important of all professions. I was 

 much pleased at the proposal. We have several 

 times talked about having a lecture or two, upon 

 some subject connected with the science of agri- 

 culture ; but we knew not on whom to call. There 

 is no gentleman in our village that has ever at- 

 tempted to give such a lecture. If we should send 

 to the city or to some college, for a professor of 

 chemistry, it would cost more than we can afford 

 to pay, and even if we should raise the means, 

 and succeed in getting such a man, it is more than 

 an even chance, that we should not be able to 

 understand one-half he would say. We want a 

 man to lecture to us, who will talk in a style that 

 we can understand ; who will write his lectures 

 on purpose for us. One whom we can approach 

 freely, and ask all sorts of questions ; who will 

 not be offended at our ignorance, but who will 

 take pains to make us comprehend clearly what 

 we need to know. 



It has been suggested that we should organize 

 a class of young people to study chemistry, this 

 winter. Now we want some gentleman with 

 whom we can advise on the subject, who can tell 

 us what books to get, and what apparatus we 

 shall want ; in shorE, it would be a great satisfac- 

 tion to us, to have a chat with some one who is 

 au fait, on the subject, and who might assist us 

 in getting under way. 



I write to inquire if any such appointments have 

 been made, or are likely to be, soon ; I believe 



