xxxii ^ REPOETS OF DELEGATES. 



The committee on farms visited six orchards of apples, two of 

 pears, twelve collections of fruit-trees, three pieces of reclaimed 

 land, and thirty-three farms. 



Thus it appears that the S ciet}- is doing a good work in offering 

 premiums for summer and fall crops, as well as for articles exhibited 

 at the annual exhibition. 



Other engagements prevented m}' remaining to witness the pro- 

 ceedings of the third da}', which comprised the delivery of an 

 address by Prof. Sanborn Tenne}', of Williams College, and 

 the awarding and distributing of premiums, principally of silver 

 plate. The day's fair concluded with an exhibition of trotting- 

 horses. 



I found that the members and officers of the association were 

 live men and women, who have the best interest of the society in 

 view, and I know of no organization where the state bounty is 

 better applied than it is with this. I shall ever remember the cor- 

 dial reception and generous hospitality and courtesy received from 



them, for which they have my sincere thanks. 



Amos Bates. 



HOOSAC VALLEY. 



I attended the Hoosac Valley Society at North Adams on the 

 16th and 17th of September. 



The officers of the Society had taken particular pains to have the 

 show of cattle a success, and had had the promise from the farmers 

 of more and better stock than at any previous show, but the fears 

 of the cattle disease kjpt away at h ast two-thirds of the cattle 

 expected. But there was quite a respectable showing as it was. 



Van Bnren Mallory, of Pittsfield, exhibited twin steers, two years 

 old, weighing 2,426 pounds ; L. J. Follett, of South Adams, a fine 

 Jersey bull, and two heifers of the same breed ; Amasa Richardson 

 a fine herd of Jerseys ; John M. Cole, the president, two pairs of 

 fat oxen, weighing together 8,500 pounds. There was a very good 

 show of milch cows. 



The show of sheep was the best of any that I have seen at any 

 of our fairs ; the most in number and the best in quality. 



The show of swine was not large. Bradford Harrison exhibited 

 some nice sows and pigs, which attracted considerable attention. 



The poultry was very fully represented, embracing nearly all 

 varieties, and was a credit to the society. 



Exhibitors of all kinds of household manufactures, agricultural 



