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perfect them according to the plan adopted, and not wait till the 

 first year — the most important part of the life of the animal — 

 for a healthy start toward perfection has passed away, and they 

 perhaps stunted forever, as is too often the case. 



It is rare that very inferior animals of this kind, at one year 

 old, ever attain to any high degree of perfection, anymore than 

 vegetation which is puny when the season is a third gone. Such 

 may, in some instances, be the case, but they are exceptions to 

 the general rule, and should never be relied upon by the farmer 

 who would be certain of success. 



Charles H. Merriam, Chairman. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Stock in General. — The fear which was expressed in a 

 prophecy, that the new trotting course would attract horses to 

 the show ground to the exclusion of cattle, was proved to be 

 unfounded by this year's exhibition. Equally false was the 

 prediction, that the Fair and National Horse Show, at Spring- 

 field, would leave the public interest and curiosity so exhausted 

 as to furnish within the enclosure of the society few animals to 

 be seen and few spectators to look on. The show of stock was 

 full and various, yet of uniform excellence. Veteran farmers 

 did not remember so rare a gathering of oxen, steers and cows. 

 The new and convenient enclosure, if it had something to do 

 with the success of this year, will doubtless present grander 

 displays of animal life and manners hereafter. The society has 

 now a local habitation as well as name. It takes on a new 

 character by having a place it can call its own, a home, and 

 lays new claims upon all the vicinage, to send up annually, 

 from pen, field and fold, every useful and ornamental quadruped 

 which may serve as proof and example of the improvement of 

 stock. These claims will be acknowledged and met. The show 

 grounds will quicken interest and skill in stock raising, and will 

 annually gather and exhibit the evidences of such enterprise. 



S. T. Spalding, Chairman. 

 Northampton, October, 1857. 



