410 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



should finish up the year's business, uninfluenced by. the 

 prospect of a new selection. 



The principal reason for holding the meeting at the time of 

 the show, as I understand it, is that of having members 

 together but once, and avoiding another meeting. I should 

 regret to think that in any county, a lack of interest would 

 forbid an annual meeting in the winter. 



In the afternoon, appropriate services were performed in the 

 upper hall, consisting of a prayer ; dedicatory address, by Hon. 

 George j\[arston, the president ; music, <fec. The whole affair 

 passed off pleasantly, and with the most perfect decorum on 

 the grounds and in the town, so far as I observed. 



The county of Barnstable is now undoubtedly improving in 

 its agriculture, although it is at this time far behind its agricul- 

 tural position in 1840 — twenty-two years ago. 



Doubtless whatever diminution of material wealth in the 

 county there may have been, it has been supplied by other 

 branches of industrial occupation ; but I should think that 

 when the farmers of Barnstable consider what their county has 

 produced, and is capable of producing, they would feel a 

 renewed encouragement to advance their agriculture. 



The society is in a prosperous condition, and its members 

 deserve the highest credit for their energy and perseverance. 



James S. Grennell. 



NANTUCKET. 



My attendance at this fair was made the more interesting to 

 myself from the fact that I resided in Berkshire County, the 

 most distant county in the State from Nantucket. The face of 

 the country, the climate, and some of the agricultural produc- 

 tions of the counties of Berkshire and Nantucket are quite 

 different from each other. I was somewhat surprised and 

 highly gratified to find that the capabilities of the island of 

 Nantticket are so considerable as they ai-e for agricultural 

 j)urposes. While the citizens there have, to some extent, 

 aviiiled thojnselves of these capabilities, it is clear that they 

 have very great resources yet unimproved. With faithful 

 cultivation, the soil throughout most of the island may be 



