202 HAMPDEN SOCIETY, 



of those days with the present ; or the comforts and conven- 

 iences of our buildings for man and beast, with those which 

 once were, we may well say, it is the age of progress. But it 

 is not our purpose to contrast our superior accommodations and 

 facilities, or our greater comforts, with those who, with much 

 patience and long endurance, prepared the path, that our feet 

 might stand secure, but rather, that we may the more fully 

 realize the important truth, that " where much is given, much 

 will be required." 



The deep interest which is manifesting itself in the various 

 branches of agricultural pursuits in our Commonwealth, is al- 

 ready producing developments too important to be overlooked 

 with indiiference. The ungenial climate and the stubborn soil 

 which characterize our New England farms, are the obstacles 

 we have to encounter in the production of the finer fruits and 

 richer grain of milder climes, and the virgin soil of more favored 

 latitudes ; and yet the unsubdued patience, and unyielding per- 

 severance of our hardy sons of labor, seem to have almost over- 

 come these difficulties, if we were permitted to form our opin- 

 ion from the samples of each on exhibition, at our last show and 

 fair. Sustained and encouraged in every attempt to elevate 

 the character of the husbandman, to facilitate his labors, to in- 

 crease his products and his profits, by the liberal endowments 

 of a parental government, the farmers of Hampden will re- 

 spond to their obligations, by their constant and unwavering 

 eff"orts to cultivate and improve " the mind and the soil " of 

 their favored home. 



The show of this society was held at Springfield, on Wed- 

 nesday and Thursday, the 1st and 2d days of October last. 

 Never, on any previous occasion, was the county of Hampden 

 better represented in men, women, animals, fruit and articles of 

 domestic manufacture. The cattle show was opened at ten 

 o'clock, A. M., on the first day ; each grade under its respective 

 banner, and so arranged that each viewing committee could 

 readily find and carefully examine the class of animals assigned 

 to it. The ploughing match came ofi" at two o'clock, P. M., 

 about half a mile from the village, and attracted a large assem- 

 bly of witnesses. 



