APPENDIX. xlix 



HAMPDEN. 



Agreeably to appointment, I attended the exhibition of the 

 Hampden County Agricultural Society, on the 4th and 5th of Octo- 

 ber. The morning of the first day was unpleasant but it cleared off 

 at noon, succeeded by a pleasant afternoon. Notwithstanding the 

 unpropitious morning, which, in some measure, restrained the exhibi- 

 tion, there was a fine show of cattle on the grounds. Thorough- 

 bred and grade Shorthorns were the most numerous. Next came 

 the Ayrshires, then the Jerseys, with here and there a solitary ani- 

 mal of other breeds. The cattle were in very good condition, con- 

 sidering the drought of the season, embracing many superior 

 animals. 



Phineas Stedman, president of the society presented his fine 

 herd of Shorthorns, headed by the " Princess Bull," " Duke of 

 Carlisle," renowned for his excellence. N. T. Smith of West 

 Springfield, exhibited 28 head of cattle, including his fine bull, 

 " Vicksburg," including grade and thoroughbred Shorthorns, 

 Josiah Fogg, of South Deerfield, exhibited a remarkably fine herd 

 of thoroughbred Shorthorns, whose gratuitous presence added 

 much to the show. This stock is from the royal line of " Arabella." 

 One of his cows, 19 yrs. old, is her last calf. These are all bred as 

 milking stock. His magnificent bull, " Master Buttercup," is from 

 the line of stock of Mr. Sheldon of New York, who has recently been 

 offered $10,000 apiece for some of his cows. W. R. Sessions, of 

 Wilbraham, exhibited 17 head of Shorthorns and gi-ades, among 

 which was his admirable thoroughbred bull " Waterloo." In the 

 line of Ayrshires was the exhibition of William Birnie's cele- 

 brated herd of thirty-six head, marshalled by his famous bull " Sul- 

 tan," a herd of Ayrshires not to be surpassed by any other exhi- 

 bition in New England. Among others we would name, as worthy 

 of notice. Col. Thompson's herd of Grade Shorthorns ; M. C. 

 Graves' herd of Shorthorns, embracing a cow giving 40 lbs. of milk 

 daily ; H. C. Sherman of Chicopee ; Hezekiah Pease, of East 

 Longmeadow, of good Grades. 



The exhibition of working oxen was not large, but among them 

 some fine yokes. Of fat cattle, there was a splendid exhibition, by 

 Charles Fowler of Westfield, consisting of seven yoke of grade 

 Durhams ; Seth Bush, of Westfield, also had some good fat cattlc' 

 The show of swine, sheep and poultry, was not large, and although 

 each department had some good specimens there were few of which 

 we took note. There was a fine show of agricultural implements 



