APPENDIX. xxiii 



and a pair of steers, three years old, sold for two hundred and eighty 

 dollars. We also noticed a well matched pair of Devon oxen sold for 

 three hundred dollars. It was evident that the Middlefield farmers, 

 and those of adjacent towns, composing this society, had gained a repu- 

 tation for raising good stock, and this was fully shown by the number of 

 good judges, and lovers of good stock present, and willing to pay large 

 remunerative prices for it. 



The farmers evidently understand what is for their interest, and show 

 their good judgment in raising such cattle, for these are the kind that 

 pay. And I would respectfully suggest, as I certainly felt, in looking 

 at these sturdy oxen, that it would have enhanced the interest of the 

 show if several pairs of them could have been attached to the plough, 

 their owners, as ploughmen, competing for the purse for the best plough- 

 ing, — this most important work of farming, — and then have seen them 

 on the loaded cart, thereby showing their training for usefulness on the 

 farm, for a pair of oxen, well trained for the plough and . the cart, 

 that can back a load as well as draw one, would be much more valuable 

 than a pair not well trained, and a farmer could well aflPord to pay a 

 higher price for such, as he would soon save the extra expense in comfort, 

 if not in time, especially if he have a barn cellar into which he wishes 

 to back loads. 



Other neat stock was not numerous. For milch cows, Elisha Strong, 

 of Northampton, and Matthew Smith, of Middlefield, took the premiums. 

 Mr. Smith, one of the pioneers of the society, though absent, did not 

 fail to have two good cows and a beautiful Durham heifer present. 



The general breed of the cattle was high grade Durhams. I noticed 

 one herd of Devons, eighteen in number, by S. L. Chapman, of Becket, 

 consisting of oxen, cows, steers, heifers, and one bull, and that a small 

 one, and the only one on the grounds. 



The show of sheep was small. I had expected to have seen here a 

 full display of this growing adjunct of husbandry. There were two 

 small flocks of Merinos, one of eleven, by M. M. Blake, of Washington, 

 and one of five, by C. H. Bond, of Washington. These were from the 

 famous Hammond stock, of Vermont, which had been introduced for the 

 benefit of breeders in this section. There were a few others, of the fine- 

 wooUed, and also a few of the Cotswold, and of these, Lawrence Smith, 

 of Middlefield, exhibited eleven very good ones. No swine exhibited. 

 Of poultry, the show was small. 



The only race of the day was that of bipeds. Six competitors started 

 on the course for a foot race, to go once round, it being one-third of a 

 mile. The successful competitor made the time in 1 : 34, for which he 

 received the premium of three dollars. The two next best, the two 

 other prizes, of two dollars and one dollar. 



