REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 251 



horses is much greater than the number of oxen and steers ; 

 and the number of cows and heifers is more than double the 

 number of horses, oxen and steers. The hmited number of 

 dairy stock shown at the exhibition will unquestionably fix the 

 attention of the officers and members upon the subject and 

 thus guaranty a full performance of duty in this particular in 

 coming exhibitions. The breeding of horses, begun in earnest, 

 should be continued under the most favorable auspices which 

 unity of action can support. 



The premiums of this society are chiefly distributed in the 

 towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hinsdale, 

 Lanesboro', Savoy, Williamstown and Windsor. 



The amount of capital employed in manufacturing in these 

 towns is two million three hundred and eighty-seven thousand 

 dollars ; number of hands employed, 2,578. The population 

 of these towns was in 1840, 11,260 ; in 1850 it was 15,275, an 

 increase of over thirty-five per cent, in ten years. One person 

 in every six of the total population is engaged in in-door labor, 

 as consumer and not producer of agricultural products. 



The number of sheep kept in 1855, in the towns named, was 

 24,069 ; horses, 1,996 ; oxen and steers, 1,693 ; cows and 

 heifers, 7,480 ; pounds of butter made, 337,510 ; pounds of 

 cheese, 1,111,490. 



27,441 acres of Mowing Land, yield 22,674 tons. 



108 acres of Wheat, average yield to the acre 22 bushels. 



The bottom lands of the Hoosac Valley, will compare favorably 

 with the best lands in the State. The prices at which they are 

 held, $50 to $70 per acre, makes it comparatively easy for the 



