349 
1817. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
EXHIBITIONS OP AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
From the accounts we have received, and from what 
we have ourselves observed, we believe that the exhibi¬ 
tions of agricultural societies have in general been 
better attended the present year, and have in most 
cases been of a more interesting character, than for¬ 
merly. The inference deducible from this is, that the 
public are becoming more interested in rural pursuits, 
and that agriculture and its associated arts are assum¬ 
ing in the minds of the people the elevated position 
which they deserve. The effect cannot but be salutary 
on the prosperity and happiness of the country at large. 
It will be the means of bringing a greater mental force 
and energy to the cultivation of the earth, and on the 
sure principle that knowledge is power,” will give to 
the farmer and artizan greater success in their voca¬ 
tions, and greater influence in their social and political 
relations. 
We had tho pleasure of attending three of the exhi¬ 
bitions in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut, viz : 
Pittsfield, Springfield, Northampton, and Hartford. 
The little space allowed us in the present number will 
not admit of our entering much into detail in describ¬ 
ing the many interesting matters which we met with 
at these shows. Being, therefore, under the necessity 
of speaking in general terms only, we trust our friends 
will discover a reasonable apology for omissions, in the 
circumstances we are placed under. 
The show at Pittsfield was on the 6th and 7th of 
October. Finding that the show at Springfield took 
place on the same days, we left Pittsfield at the close 
of the first day, in order that w T e might be at Spring- 
field in time to witness a part of the exhibition at that 
place. The exhibition at Pittsfield was the thirty- 
seventh which has been held by the Berkshire county 
society—that association having instituted the first 
“ cattle show” in the United States, in 1810. The in¬ 
creasing success which has attended the long career of 
this society, affords unmistakeable evidence of its good 
management. The exhibition on the present occasion 
was in most respects considered as good as usual. The 
most interesting feature of New England agricultural 
shows generally is the working oxen, and the display 
of these at Pittsfield w r as quite large, and there were 
many valuable pairs—though, to be candid, we must 
say, that too large a proportion of them were large¬ 
boned, rough, and quite too coarse for profit either as 
feeders or workers. The objection of coarseness would 
also apply in some degree to the cows, yet some of 
them were not obnoxious to this charge, and ,w r ere evi¬ 
dently valuable animals. There were but three or 
four bulls offered, and they by no means of superior ex¬ 
cellence. There were some very fine swine, and hardly 
one that was not good. The sheep were not nume¬ 
rous, and in general of only middling quality—but 
there were a few good Merinos. The show-in the hall 
was said to be not so large as that of last year. There 
were, however, handsome specimens of various house¬ 
hold fabrics, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, speci¬ 
mens of the mechanic arts, &c. As we left on the 
first day, we did not hear the address or witness the 
plowing match. 
At Springfield the exhibition was equal to former 
fears. Not having been present on the first day, we 
©nly saw the exhibition of horses—which was uncom¬ 
monly fine—and the display in the hall. The latter 
was altogether good, and in some respects superior. 
The show of butter and cheese was the best we ever 
witnessed for a county society. The butter was ar¬ 
ranged for exhibition in a manner worthy of imitation. 
A sample of each lot was moulded into handsome 
lumps and placed under a tight glass case, secure from 
dust and the action of the air. Apples, pears, and 
other fruits were numerous and of superior appearance. 
The show of vegetables was really very fine, compris¬ 
ing the finest specimens of the choicest of our culi¬ 
nary articles. The ornamental decorations of the hall 
were of a very tasteful character—the flowers especi¬ 
ally being arranged in beautiful style. The address 
was delivered by Prof. C. U. Shepard, of Amherst 
College. We took some notes of it from which we 
shall endeavor to furnish a sketclf for our next number. 
At present we can only say that it was highly inter¬ 
esting and strictly utilitarian in its character. 
The exhibition at Northampton was on the 13th and 
14th of October. Here, also, we were unable to spend 
but one day, as we were desirous of being at Hartford 
on the 14th. The society located at Northampton, 
formerly embraced the three counties of Hampden, 
Hampshire, and Franklin; but the former county has 
within a few years organized a society of its own, 
holding its exhibitions at Springfield. 
In most departments, the display at Northampton 
was large, and in general it was very satisfactory. 
The working oxen were out in greater numbers than at 
any show we have attended for several years. The 
town of East Hampton showed a team of 39 yoke, 
West Hampton forty-four, South Hadley twenty-eight, 
and Conway twenty-three yoke. The latter team was 
in general appearance superior to any one of the same 
size we ever saw from one town. Besides these teams 
there were many single yoke of oxen of fine appear¬ 
ance. There were a few superior milch cows; but the 
bulls were not of a quality which would entitle them 
to commendation. There were a few very good pigs; 
but no good sheep—at least we saw none. 
The display of fabrics was not large. The venera¬ 
ble Dr. Stebbins, of Northampton, with unabated zeal 
in the silk cause, exhibited almost every description of 
silk article, from the cocoon to the wrought fabric, 
arid mulberry paper. Fruits were especially fine, com¬ 
prising specimens of the choice new pears. Vegetables 
were well represented. Dairy products respectable as to 
quantity; we were told the quality was unexceptionable. 
The plowing match was contested by eighteen teams, 
and most of the work was executed in a creditable 
manner. But we shall probably speak more particu¬ 
larly of this and some other matters hereafter. 
Worcester County, Mass. —The annual show of 
this long-established and useful society, took place at 
Worcester on the 23d of September. In some depart¬ 
ments the competition was less than it has usually 
been. The general show of animals, however, is stated 
to have been very good, and that of manufactures bet¬ 
ter than last year. The show having been held a fort¬ 
night earlier than usual, and books having been offered 
instead of money for premiums, it is thought operated 
to render the show less interesting. 
The show of the Worcester Horticultural Society, 
which took place at the same time of that of the Ag. 
Society, was excellent. 
Essex County. —Show held at Lynn, September 
29th. From several accounts we have seen, the ex¬ 
hibition appears to have been a very good one. Thirty 
teams were engaged in the plowing match, and there 
