66 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



shows and fairs there, and he possessed the somewhat 

 rare faculty of being able to infuse into those asso- 

 ciated with him a large measure of his own enthusiasm. 

 There is some reason for supposing that at that period 

 there was a stronger community feeling in Berkshire 

 than in any other considerable section of the State. 

 At any rate, the cattle show prospered there from the 

 start, and its success made an impression on the public 

 mind wherever the fact became generally known. 



In 1823 John Lowell who had been the correspond- 

 ing secretary of the Massachusetts society from 1806, 

 became its president. In the first issue of the Journal 

 after his election he gave a somewhat extended review 

 of the society's transactions, with a purpose to vindi- 

 cate it against various unjust aspersions. He thus 

 adverted to the Berkshire society: 



But it has been intimated that this central society 

 had arrogated to itself merits, to which it was not 

 entitled; that it had been tardy to do justice to the 

 great and meritorious exertions of the Berkshire 

 society. This is unkind; we have always been prompt 

 to acknowledge the early, efficient and intelligent 

 efforts of that society. We have admitted that they 

 were the first to give a spring to agricultural efforts by 

 introducing the British and French system of public 

 shows of cattle and manufactures. Still, too much 

 must not be claimed on this score. It was not an 

 original thought. Many of us had visited the Euro- 

 pean shows, and the subject of introducing them had 

 been discussed, and there can be no doubt, that long 

 ere this, they would have been in full operation from 

 the successful effect of European example. This is not 

 said with a wish to diminish the merit of Mr. Watson, 

 Mr. Gold, Mr. Melville, and Mr. Mackay, and the 

 other "gentlemen farmers" of Berkshire. We know 



