HAMPDEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 175 



HAMPDEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The annual fair of this society was held at Springfield, on the 

 4th and 5th days of October last. The storm that lowered so 

 inauspicioLisly, seemed to have gradually worn itself out, and 

 the clouds that wept incessantly from Sunday night, till the 

 morning of the first day of the exhibition, drew themselves lazily 

 away, and by noon, let in the sunshine. The forebodings of the 

 friends of the society, in regard to this exhibition, were then 

 partially relieved ; and the spirit and interest, displayed by the 

 farmers, ere the day wore out, removed every doubt, that, like 

 the clouds, had hung over the day. 



The fair proved much better than could reasonably have been 

 anticipated, under the unfavorable circumstances that ushered 

 it in. In cattle, particularly, there was a manifest superiority 

 over the show of last year. The number was at least one third 

 greater, and the character of the animals drew admiration from 

 every intelligent observer. The entries of working oxen this 

 year, were 34 against 24 of last ; of bulls, 7 against 9 ; of steers, 

 41 against 12 ; of fat cattle, 9 against 5 ; of swine, 13 against 

 14; of sheep, 7 against 10: of heifers and milch cows, 23 against 

 25. 



Two pairs of fat cattle entered by George Taylor, of Westfield, 

 weighed 4350 and 4300 lbs., respectively, the former being eight 

 years old, and the latter seven. Two other pairs, aged five and 

 eight years, entered by his brother, Hezekiah Taylor, weighed 

 respectively 3700 and 3800 lbs. A pair of three years old steers, 

 belonging to Capt. Morgan, of Longmeadow, attracted consider- 

 able attention, since they each weighed about 1600 lbs., and 

 measured seven feet in girth. They were raised in Belcher- 

 town. 



The ploughing match, in the afternoon, surpassed that of 



