39 



paid in beautiful silver cups, pitchers, etc., which Were won successively by 

 Wollison and Dewey of Pittsfield, there being only five contestants. Time— 1st 

 mile 3:59; 2d 3:57; 3d 4:04; 4th 3:56: 5th 3:37; time for five miles 19:33; 

 for the two miles 7:23. This was followed by an exhibition of fancy bicycle 

 riding by Messrs. Pressey and Lester of Boston, who performed wonderful 

 evolutions, riding in almost every conceivable position on two bicycles, on a 

 single bicycle, and finally on a single wheel. Music for the day was furnished 

 by the Egremont baud. The receipts at the gate, including some $700 for mem- 

 bers tickets previously sold, were $1,051. 



'ihe weather on Thursday was cloudy and warm in the morning, rainy later 

 in the day, and clear towards evening. Notwithstanding the threatening weather 

 there were probably 15.000 people in attendance. The music was furnished by 

 the Stockbridge band, and the receipts at the gate were about $1,000, mostly for 

 single admissions. 



The weather on Friday was fine, and the attendance large for the third day, 

 probably 10,000 persons. The address by Dr. George B. Loring was listened 

 to with close attention. He was followed by a few remarks from Judge Abram 

 H. Daily of Brooklyn, N. Y., ;.fter which the report of the various awarding 

 committees were read, aud the premiums paid in money by the treasurer, accord- 

 to the recent vote of the society. The Germania band of Pittsfield, furnished 

 music in the afternoon, ari-iving too late for the morning exercises. The 

 receipts at the gate were about $800. 



The total number of entries of animals, crops, articles, etc., for 1884 were 

 2,292. Of these there were 727 entries of animals, representing 1,418 head ; 

 crops 542 ; useful and fancy articles in the hall 518 ; butter and cheese 69 ; 

 bread, syrup, etc., 162; flowers and plants 66: fruits 67 ; agricultural and me- 

 chanical 27; seeds, vegetables, etc., 198; grade cattle 163, (271 head;) thoroughbred 

 cattle 125, (161 head ;) swine 18, (78 head ;) sheep 95, (329 head ;) horses 129 

 (175 head ;) poultry 197, (404 fowls ;) besides various miscellaneous entries. 



MEETING OF STATE BOARD. 



At the last annual meeting of the Society a vote was passed inviting the 

 State Board of Agriculture to hold their next country meeting in Great Barring- 

 ton. The invitation was accepted aud the meetings were held in the Town 

 Hall on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, December 3d, 4th and 5th. The 

 attendance at the several sessions varied in numbers, from 150 to 400, but the 

 lectures and discussions were of great interest and listened to with the closest 

 attention. The information given, and the ideas advanced will prove of great 

 value to the farmers and others present ; and it is a matter of regret that the 

 hall was not filled with members of our Society, not only to show our appreci- 

 ation of the kindness of the State Board in coming so far to favor us, but that 

 all might have been benefitted by the instructions of the meetings. 



farmer's institutes. 



The sixteenth Institute of the Society was held at the Town Hall in Great 

 Barrington. on Friday, February 16th. The weather was favorable and there 

 was a large attendance. The subject, "The Relative Advantages of Special 

 and Mixed Farming," was introduced by Mr. C. A. Mills, of South Williamstown. 

 He asserted that every business is best managed by special attention to particular 

 departments. As an example he spoke of a watch, made of 278 parts, each 



