HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. xxxv 



to them was completely filled, and the display was very fine and 

 attractive. The eloquent and fascinating address of Rev. O. P. 

 Gifford will well repay a careful perusal. 



From what I saw, and from conversation with farmers, I was 

 fully satisfied that this society is working very successfully to pro- 

 mote the object for which it was organized. This conviction was 

 strengthened by what I did not see. There was no useless display, 

 no efl^ort of questionable expediency to simply make an impres- 

 sion, no exhibit that seemed to have been prepared for the occa- 

 sion, nor a society dinner, that sometimes interferes so much with 

 the legitimate purposes of an agricultural fair. 



Your delegate is under many obligations to the officers of the 

 society, and to Mr. Merrill of this Board. 



A. H. Holland. 



HOUS ATONIC. 



I attended the Housatonic Cattle Show held at Great Barrington 

 Sept. 26, 27, and 28. I started so as to reach Great Barrington 

 the evening of the 25th, believing it to be the duty of delegates 

 to attend promptly to the duties assigned them, and equally the 

 duty of societies to notify the delegates of their programme, and 

 the chances of reaching their destined places in time to see all. 



Earl}^ in the morning of the first day I found my way to the 

 grounds, about three-fourths of a mile from the village, on a pleas- 

 ant street, and watched the coming-in of the stock and people. 

 There were nearly two hundred head of cattle soon on the grounds ; 

 and the people numbered from six to eight thousand during the 

 show. Many of these people came from their farms in the moun- 

 tains and valleys, in wagons, with two horses and whole famiUes, 

 which to me was a pleasant sight. 



The society's grounds consist of thirtj'-five acres of excellent 

 land, extending from the main street to the river. Adjoining the 

 river is a large field, where cattle that come in the day before, and 

 many that come earl}^ in the morning, are turned to feed. At the 

 southerl}^ end of this are the cattle-pens ; west of this is the half- 

 mile track, with its judges' stand ; still on towards the street is the 

 large two-stor}- hall, with a basement nearl}' above ground ; south 

 of this, at the side of the lot, are the pens for sheep and swine, 

 also the poultry building, I think some eighty feet long and twelve 

 feet wide, with rows of stationary' coops through the centre aU 

 alUce. The sides of the building take out, allowing good hght and 



