xxxii REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



oats, seemed to be the most numerous, yet there was a large show 

 of all kinds of grain and grass seeds; the number of entries I have 

 not before me ; they were many. 



The fall crops consisted of corn, buckwheat, potatoes, beans, 

 turnips, squashes, mammoth and smaller kinds, cabbages that 

 looked as though they were raised by men that knew how. The 

 entries were many and all of a rather superior quality ; they were 

 all worthy of praise. 



The products of the dairy were well represented. I saw fifty- 

 four samples of butter, which were of fine quality, and gave assur- 

 ance that the farmers wives in Berkshire have lost none of their 

 skill in butter making, which is a very important item in making 

 the farm pay. 



Of cheeses there were fourteen, with one sage and one factory, 

 making sixteen in the whole. I was told that the farmers'-made- 

 cheese sold at home better than factory, at a higher price and much 

 better profit, which is worthy of notice by all who keep dairies, 

 and the example set by this society is worthy of much praise. 



The exhibition in the hall, of fruits, flowers, domestic manu- 

 facture and articles of taste was admirable and extensive. The 

 show of cattle was not large. I saw one good pair of fat oxen, 

 some three or four pairs of working oxen, a few small herds of 

 cattle with some eighteen or twenty milch cows ; they were all of 

 the finest stock, and oxen and cows such as a man of fancy would 

 like to look at. For bulls which showed good of the Shorthorn 

 and Jersey, Mr. Hubbard of Barrington presented a three-years- 

 old Shorthorn that in my opinion cannot be beaten, especially in 

 shape. Also a Jersey, owned by Mr. Curtis, was worthy of notice; 

 others, some eight or ten, of good blood and good appearance. 



A goodly number of horses were on the ground, well trained and 

 of good appearance. The horses of both sexes showed that far- 

 mers in the Housatonic Society understand the kind of horses that 

 are worth raisin %. 



The ploughing was done with horses, by nine competitors. The 

 ploughing was handsomely done. I should say for my farm the 

 most of it was too shallow ; I should think the most of it was not 

 over 5^ inches to 6^ inches deep ; to show good ploughing I should 

 say from 7 to 8 inches would be needed, which would require 

 much more skill than the shallow depth of 5 or 6 inches, and 

 would stand the drought better. 



The course observed by this society in regard to pedigrees of 

 stock is worthy of praise, and should be observed throughout the 

 Commonwealth. 



