228 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not until after the neat stock, swine and sheep, had been removed 

 from the grounds, in accordance with the custom of the society, 

 — a custom which, your delegate respectfully suggests, would 

 he " more honored in the breach than in the observance." He 

 would therefore recommend to the society the expediency of 

 retaining the cattle and live stock during the forenoon, at least, 

 of the second day, — thus obviating, in a measure, the common 

 objection that horses are to be the chief attraction of the grand 

 day of the exhibition. 



The exhibition was held on the 3d and 4th days of October. 

 The show of stock took place on the spacious and beautiful 

 grounds of Hampden Park, owned by the society. Tlie farm 

 products, fruits, manufactures, and all other articles, were 

 arranged in Hampden Hall. 



The weather was fair during both days, and the attendance 

 and interest satisfactory. The exhibition of stock, although 

 not the largest, was considered one of the best ever made by the 

 society, and in the opinion of a member of this Board, to whom 

 your delegate is indebted for information, presented many 

 points of excellence. 



Among the entries of neat stock there were ten pairs of fat 

 cattle, twenty-four yoke of working oxen, twenty-five milch 

 cows, eleven bulls, and thirteen yoke of steers. Conspicuous 

 among these were a yoke of fat oxen four years old, from Mr. 

 George S. Taylor, of Westfield, weighing 4,500 pounds, — the 

 Short-horns of Mr. Stedman, the Ayrshircs of Mr. Birnie, and 

 the Devons of Mr. Sessions. There were also some good 

 Jerseys, and many fine grade animals on the grounds. All 

 the fat cattle, except two yoke of oxen from Springfield, 

 were from "Westfield, a town long celebrated for its fine beef 

 animals. The Short-horns and grades were considered as the 

 best representatives of good beef growing, and the Ayrshires as 

 embracing more good points for the dairy than any other. The 

 Jerseys are, however, coming in as competitors in this line, 

 and both of these breeds are on the increase in this county. 



Of sheep there were twelve lots, embracing good South Downs, 

 Cotswold and New Oxfordshire breeds. 



Of swine there were fourteen pens, consisting largely of the 

 Chester County breed, which, for rapid growth, are here, as else- 

 where, gaining popularity with those who grow for market. 



