682 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



MR. NASH'S REPORT. 



EXHIBITION OF THE HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



In accordance with the instructions of the Board, I attended 

 the Annual Exhibition of the Hampden Society, at Spring- 

 field, on the 29th and 30th of September. 



This is an old society ; is situated in a fine agricultural 

 district ; and has done well in former years. I therefore ex- 

 pected much, and was not disappointed. The exhibition, as a 

 whole, and in each of its parts, was creditable to the society. 



Of the show of cattle and other stock, I cannot speak wholly 

 from personal observation, as a part of the animals had been 

 removed before my arrival. What remained would justify the 

 conclusion, that the exhibition had been highly respectable, so 

 far as the character of the animals was considered, though I 

 understood, that not as many were entered as on some former 

 occasions. 



The trial of draft oxen took place on the afternoon of the 

 first day. Great interest was manifested in this part of the 

 exhibition. It consisted in taking up and down State Street, 

 with single pairs of oxen, many of which were not large, a cart 

 loaded with pig iron, weighing 5,300 lbs. As this was to be 

 taken up and down a rather steep hill, turned round and back- 

 ed ; and especially as it had to be done in a press of spectators, 

 which was troublesome to both the teams and drivers, the 

 trial seemed rather a severe one. Such a test may have been 

 wise on that occasion. The known sound judgment and prac- 

 tical good sense of the officers of the society decides that it 

 was. But it would not be for the interest of farmers to load 

 their cattle as heavily more than one day in the year. The ox 

 is a faithful animal. He will do his utmost when bid. But 

 he cannot do it often without injury to himself and loss to his 

 owner. On this occasion the cattle performed well, and the 

 drivers appeared like men who understood their business. If 

 there was anything to complain of, it was, that the spectators 

 did not allow sufficient room. Something was due to the men, 

 who had brought their teams, some of them from great dis- 

 tances, for the purpose of exhibiting their working qualities. 



