HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 209 



exhibited. There were one hundred and thirteen animals pre- 

 sented, under four different grades, for examination and award ; 

 the task of making a just discrimination under the most favor- 

 able circumstances would be a difficult one, even to the most 

 practised eye, and particularly so under the limited opportuni- 

 ties which the time allowed would admit of Had there been 

 a greater disparity, had they constituted the two extremes, of 

 good and bad, our duties would have been light and easy. 

 But when all are good, it is more difficult to discriminate, and 

 decide which are better and which best ; better were never 

 (probably) exhibited at any county exhibition. And the com- 

 mittee feel sincere pleasure in testifying to the evidences of 

 decided improvement in this department of the show. 



Poultry. 



There were upon the ground sixty-six coops or cages of 

 fowls, besides a dozen or more not entered, ni consequence of 

 being brought in too late ; containing in all, some five hundred 

 splendid specimens of the feathered race ; fully equal in point 

 of quality and good breeding to any exhibition of fowls in 

 New England. 



In justice to the examining committee it should be stated, 

 that the names of the contributors were not known at the time 

 of making their awards. This fact was subsequently ascer- 

 tained by reference to the book of entries. 



No. 45. — Shanghaes, bantams, and cross breeds,, owned by 

 Charles Barrows, of Springfield, who gives the following state- 

 ment : — " This bantam hen is 17 months old, weighing If 

 lbs., has laid, within six months subsequent to January 25, 

 1851, 119 eggs, weighing 169 ounces, and has reared one 

 brood of chickens since the expiration of six months ; while a 

 Shanghae hen weighing 5 lbs. 6 oz., twenty-eight months old, 

 during the same time, laid only 69 eggs, weighing 155 ounces, 

 being a difi"erence in favor of the bantam of 14 ounces. I 

 have produced a new variety by crossing the Dorking, Poland, 

 and bantam breed." 

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