XXX EEPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



UNION. 



The eighth annual show of the Union Agricultural Society was 

 held at Blandford, on the grounds of the Societ}-, Sept. 18th and 

 19th. These grounds are located in the centre, near the church, on 

 nearl}^ the highest land in Hampden County. 



The exhibition of working-oxen was the leading feature of the 

 day. Great interest was manifested, and the time allowed was ex- 

 tended long after the hour for the annual address. The oxen were 

 required to draw a boat loaded with stone, the oldest class draw- 

 ing 4,300 pounds, and in one case the driver riding himself. In 

 order to even start this load, the}' were obliged to exert themselves 

 to their utmost capacity ; and those that had been trained to it had 

 the advantage ; though of less weight, the}- accomplished it apparently 

 easier than those of larger weight. There were over fifty entries of 

 working-oxen, whose average weight was 3,000 pounds ; one pair 

 weighing 4,405 pounds. Upon inquiry we found that nearlj' all 

 these had been bought in ; verj- few are now raised in this section. 

 This is not as it should be. Of the thoroughbreds, the Durhams, 

 Ayrshire, Jersey and Hereford, had a few representatives ; the 

 Ayrshire taking the lead in regard to numbers. One lot of sheep, 

 four of swine, and a number of coops of poultry, completed the list. 



The exhibition in the hall was ver}' fine ; fruits and flowers, grain 

 and vegetables, home-manufactured goods, fanc}- articles, and needle- 

 work of all kinds loaded the tables. The fine samples of bread and 

 butter, cheese and sugar, showed truly that we were in a land^^ow- 

 ing with milk and honey, and fall of the staff of life. One com- 

 mendable feature of the fair, was the well-served dinners in the 

 lower hall ; the Society taking the whole responsibility of feeding 

 the crowd, and turning the profits into their treasury. The address 

 in the church, b}' Henry E. Knox, Esq., closed the exercises of the 

 day. Mr. Knox is a lawyer in New York, and has purchased the 

 old homestead in this his native town as a summer resort. 



His address consisted of a \Qvy graphic description of a trip 

 across the Continent to California, what he saw, etc. The only 

 regret of the audience was that the closing hour came too soon. The 

 great sale of Shorthorns in Central New York, the stock-yards of 

 Chicago, the grain-fields of the West and of California, the many 

 natural features of the country, and the different valleys of Cali- 

 fornia, — all received a passing notice. 



An interesting farmers' meeting was held in the church in the 

 evening. 



