xxvi REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



Arriving at the park belonging to the society late in the forenoon 

 of the 11th, we at once commenced an examination of the stock on 

 the grounds, and found a large number on exhibition, in which the 

 different breeds of blood stock, common in stock breeding districts, 

 were well represented. In this connection it will be fair to say that 

 there were no specimens which could be regarded as prodigies in 

 size, while much the larger portion were young and thrifty animals ; 

 especially so, if we set aside the seven yokes of oxen and forty-one 

 coAvs shown by Dr. Wakefield, Superintendent at the State Alms- 

 house at Monson, which alone was a grand show. The ox-team 

 and the cows would be hard to beat on any single farm in this State. 

 H. M. Sessions of Wilbraham was there with a herd of 21 fine 

 Devons, O. M. Graves with a herd of 26, Wm. R. Sessions with 

 a herd of 18, and there "were numerous smaller herds, mainly of 

 young and thriving animals. 



The ploughing match was a spirited one, Avith both horse and ox 

 teams, but owing to the severity of the drought it was almost like 

 ploughing baked clay and ashes, with the ashes largely preponderat- 

 ing- 



There was a somewhat extensive exhibition of Chester White 



swine of various ages, and good specimens. 



There were a few fine-wooUed sheep, though there appeared no 

 evidence that sheep husbandry is made a specialty in the region of 

 East Hampden. 



The poultry department was well represented, — turkeys, geese 

 and ducks, with numerous breeds of others of the feathered tribe. 



The vestry of a church in the immediate vicinity of the park was 

 used for the exhibition of fancy articles, needle-work, butter, cheese, 

 fruit and vegetables. The ladies, it was clearly apparent, had inter- 

 ested themselves in efforts to make the show a success. Domestic 

 manufactures of all kinds, which are usual at such shows, appeared 

 remarkably well. The bread, butter and cheese served as genuine 

 appetizers. 



Of fruit and vegetables there were quantities of either, and 

 many of the specimens were large, which surprised us, for we 

 learned that as much rain had not fallen in that locality, from the 

 20th of June to the time of holding the fair, as is requisite for one 

 good shower. 



In some of the n])])les upon the tables we observed the workings 

 of larvie of the codling moth in the form of ugly looking holes, and 

 that too where it was apparent the contributor could have placed 

 upon the table better specimens, if not quite as large ; this is Avhere 



