REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 301 



the sounilest and most useful institutions of the kind in the 

 State ; an institution established by the working farmers, 

 supported by them, and for their benefit. 



I believe that the object of the State in lending its aid for 

 the encouragement and improvement of agriculture, is no- 

 where better carried out than by this association. 



Henry H. Peters. 



HAMPDEN EAST. 



The day of the annual exhibition by the Hampden East 

 Agricultural Society was fine, and well adapted to the purposes 

 of the occasion. 



Arriving at Palmer early in the forenoon, my first impres- 

 sion was, that I had made a mistake in regard to the appointed 

 day, so little indication did I see of such a public interest and 

 such a general gathering as is usually met with at the cattle 

 shows wbich 1 have heretofore attended. My first inquiries at 

 the railroad station, as to the location of the exhibition, were 

 answered doubtfully, the respondent saying that he believed 

 there was some kind of a show behind the hotel, in which 

 direction I turned my course, and in due time reached " Hamp- 

 den Park," where I had the good fortune to meet the delegate 

 from the Hampden East Society to this Board, from whom I 

 received every attention which the occasion required. The 

 park presented nothing attractive, the panic in regard to the 

 cattle disease having prevented the exhibition of neat stock, 

 and in company of Col. Knox, I proceeded to the hall in 

 which were exhibited the various articles usually shown in such 

 places, and I most cheerfully give the society credit for a very 

 neat, though not very large exhibitio^n. The specimens from 

 the vegetable productions of the farm were of a very superior 

 character. Superb and healthy looking potatoes, fine squashes, 

 beautiful wheat and rye, and in this connection I would also 

 mention bread and butter delicious to the eye, were of as high a 

 quality as I have ever seen at such places. The exhibition of 

 fruit was very attractive, and manifested good care in the selec- 

 tion of varieties, and diligent culture which was shown in the 



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