126 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



their "warm and hospitable precincts, while fitfnl gusts strewed 

 the ground with leaves or drove the rain against the glass. A 

 darker night than the first brooded over the earth, and the hills 

 and valleys were alike lost in the impenetrable gloom. So the 

 second day closed upon the forty-fifth anniversary of the Old 

 Berkshire society. 



But Friday — who says that Friday is always an unlucky day ? 

 — Friday morning, bright and early, the sun came flashing over 

 the eastern hills, and sent his warm and cheering beams into 

 every nook of that rich and lovely valley. Up went the mists 

 from the meadows and hill tops, and once more shone the gor- 

 geous dyes on their sides ; the cocks crowed and strutted in 

 their harems, with unbounded gusto, and geese and ducks, and 

 pigs and horses, and oxen and calves and sheep, each lent a 

 note so as to render the harmony complete ! Children clapped 

 their little hands in delight in view of the ride, and ginger- 

 bread and buns, and music and races that, were before them, 

 and so the mothers were happy and the fathers glad. The 

 whole world of Berkshire turned out, the gates were thrown 

 open, and the success of the forty-fifth fair became a " fixed 

 fact." 



The first exercise was that of ploughing. The bills stated 

 that the teams would start at " nine o'clock, A. M. ;" but it was 

 nearly eleven before the chains were straightened. Thirteen 

 teams ploughed, on a gravelly loam, and did the work moder- 

 ately well. The ploughs used were all single, and one of them 

 had a cast-iron beam. There was but one pair of oxen which 

 exhibited any thing but the most common training, and they 

 were also the finest in proportions, being attentive to the 

 driver's language, strong and quick in their motions. A pair 

 of black and a pair of gray horses were also well matched and 

 well trained. The black pair we afterwards saw attached to a 

 carriage, where they did themselves and driver as much credit 

 as they did with the plough. Six inches in depth and twelve 

 in width were required. The ground was unfavorable in two 

 particulars — it was ridgy and full of pebbles, so that it would 

 be difficult to make handsome work, even with skilful teams 

 and men. 



Then came the riding on horseback around the course, by 

 ladies, and a very pleasant and attractive feature it was — and 



