1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 255 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



Theanniial exhibition of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hamp- 

 den Agricultural Society, was held at Northampton on the 

 sixth and seventh days of October. This was its thirty-ninth 

 anniversary, and, though three soci sties have been incorporated 

 within its bounds since its organijation, it is in a prosperous 

 condition. 



Order and decorum prevailed throughout the entire exhi- 

 bition. 



The farmers with their families were there in goodly num- 

 bers. 



The exhibition of stock occupied the first day. About four 

 hundred head of cattle were entered, comprising some fifty fat 

 oxen and for the stall, which may well be the pride of Connec- 

 ticut River Valley farmers. We do not remember ever to 

 have seen in the aggregate a better show of oxen. There were 

 three town strmg, sixty-five pairs in all, mostly very choice 

 working oxen. 



Of young and miscellaneous stock there was a good show. 

 Several good Durham bulls were on the ground. 



The society offer no premiums for distinct races or breeds, 

 which may account for the fact that there was not much pure 

 blood stock to attract, attention, except the herd exhibited by 

 "Wells Lathrop, of South Badley, with the following statement : 



" I offer for exhibition and premium my Yarico tribe of 

 thorough-bred short-horns. They consist of the original cow, 

 Yarico, now fourteen years old, six of her heifers which she 

 produced in succession without a bull intervening, and nine 

 animals, the produce of these heifers. They number in all six- 

 teen animals, viz. : fourteen cows, heifers and heifer calves, and 

 two bull calves. The two latter, with five of the heifers and 

 heifer calves, were sired by Kirkleavington, 1st, 610 (11640), 

 and I believe they do him full justice. The old cow descended 

 from the very superior milking family of short-horns, which 

 were imported and bred by the late Stephen Williams, of North- 

 borough, Mass., and both she and six of her family, which now 

 are or have been in milk, prove to be excellent milkers. I have 

 never disposed of a female of this tribe." 



