APPENDIX. xix 



contrast of half a century, from 1818 to 1868, and the good 

 times coming to the cause of agi'iculture and mechanic arts, or in 

 other words, the goklen age of American industry. 



In closing I would express my thanks for the kind attention 

 received. M. F. Watkins. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



In discharge of my duty as delegate of the Board of Agriculture, 

 per appointment, I visited the annual exhibition of the IIanii)sliire 

 Agricultural Society, held at Amherst, September 29th and 30th. 

 The weather was all that could have been desired ; the concourse 

 of visitors the first day was not large, owing in a great measure to 

 the care being required to secure the second hay crop, which on 

 account of stormy weather, had on most of the valley farms been 

 cut from eight to ten days, and as " he who would make hay nuist 

 do so while the sun shines," the opportunity so favorably oflered 

 this day was gladly accepted by the farming community generally ; 

 thus in a measure lessening the interest of the exhibition, although 

 as it was, we report the show as of the first class ; in short, a de- 

 cided success. 



The first day was devoted to the reception of articles for the 

 hall, and the examination of farm stock by the various conimittees. 



The stock shown was good in quality and numbers ; four towna 

 were represented by teams ; in a total, 114 pairs oxen and steers. 

 The centre of attraction of these was on the oxen exhibited by J. 

 Ashcroft, of Hadley, and on the steers shown by Munroe Keith, ot 

 Granby, and also by A. Stacy, of Belchertown, 



The display of cows was quite meagre and small, and I think 

 there must be many cows in Amherst and vicinity better worthy of 

 premiums than any of those on exhibition. 



Of the bulls shown I would mention " Hero," (Jersey,) sliown by 

 the Agricultural College, as a superior animal ; the " Duke of Hamp- 

 den," (Durham,) by A. D. Norcross, of Monson, one of the best of 

 the breed in the county. And I would not here pass the Durham 

 recently purchased and shown by W. B. Kymbal, of Enfield, of 

 which I have no hesitancy in saying that he may be made a source 

 of wealth to the farmers of Enfield. The number of herds was 

 limited to two, yet " that which lacked in quantity was made up 

 in quality." 



The display of swine was small, but quite commendable. 



