SECRETARY'S REPORT. 399 



I 



HOUSATONIC. 



The twenty-first annual exhibition of the Housatonic Agri- 

 cultural Society was held at Great Barrington, on the 25th, 

 26th and 27th days of September last. 



Having been prevented, by circumstances beyond my control, 

 from attending it, I have collected, from the public journals, 

 such facts as will serve to represent the ciiaracter of the exhibi- 

 tion, and the condition of the society. But, though I may in 

 this way partially accomplish the object of my appointment as 

 your delegate on the occasion, it will yet be a cause of deep 

 regret that I could not otherwise discharge the duty incumbent 

 on me, nor enjoy the pleasure I anticipated in performing it. 



The exhibition appears to have exceeded the general expec- 

 tation in several respects. It yielded large returns to the 

 society. It contributed much to the enjoyment and to the 

 benefit of the people ; and it afforded good evidence of the 

 intelligence, industry and thrift of the yeomanry and mechanics, 

 and of the housewives and daughters of southern Berkshire. 

 At its commencement, apprehensions of its success were felt, 

 in consequence of indications of an approaching storm ; — of the 

 absence of a large portion of the citizens now in the army, and 

 of the heavy, pecuniary pressure of the times. The number 

 of visitors on the first day was unusually small. But, on the 

 second and third days, the attendance and interest were all 

 tliat could be desired. Farmers exhibited praiseworthy ambition 

 to excel in displaying the products of their fields, gardens and 

 orchards, their stalls and styes ; while their wives and daughters 

 vied with one another in exhibiting proofs of their skill in floral 

 culture, and various specimens of the useful and ornamental 

 domestic arts. 



Of neat stock, it was reported by the examining committees 

 of several divisions, that there was apparently a considerable 

 falling off from the displays of former years, in the number 

 and quality of the animals on exhibition. This deficiency, 

 however, was, in some instances, supplied by the superior 

 excellence of the animals. On the whole, we infer that, in 

 regard to this department, the reputation of this part of Berk- 

 shire was less fully sustained than it might easily have been 

 under other circumstances tlian those which now affect the 

 whole community with a depressing influence. 



