xxxiv REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



better, I was told that the members generally were willing to take 

 hold and make their fairs a success. I came away feeling that this 

 is truly a prosperous societ}'. I was received with great kindness 

 by President Bullard, ex-President Curtis ; also Col. Rowley. 



Elnathan Graves. 



IIOOSAC VALLEY. 



It was a fine autumnal day, and the sturdy farmers, with their 

 sons, were out with their working-oxen, their cows and heifers of the 

 different breeds of thoroughbred animals, their sheep and swine ; 

 also a number of coops containing fancy poultry. 



This society owns the land, and buildings thereon, upon which it 

 holds its annual fairs, and a plot of ground better adapted to tbeir 

 wants could hardly be found in the Hoosac Valley. Their hall is 

 large, thoroughly built, and the room well utilized. 



The exhibition of vegetables was large, consisting of squashes, 

 pumpkins, cabbages, cauliflowers, beets, turnips, onions and pota- 

 toes, most of them being well-shaped, smooth specimens of their 

 several varieties, yet the number of monstrosities was sufficient to 

 relieve the e}'e from that sameness which sometimes attaches itself 

 to this department of the fair. 



The show of apples and peaches was not large, but very good ; of 

 pears there was a large show, among which were to be found many 

 choice specimens of rare varieties. There was a large collection of 

 various kinds of fruit in cans ; a fine collection of plants in pots ; 

 cut-fiowers, arranged in different styles, which were an ornament to 

 the hall, a credit to the exhibitors, and furnished visitors a pleasant 

 field for study. 



There was an abundance of quilts, spreads and various articles of 

 domestic manufacture ; also fancy needle and worsted work. Many . 

 of these articles were of the more useful class, and by the lady 

 visitors present were pronounced " finely done." 



The exhibition of this class of articles is an index to the interest 

 taken in industrial exhibitions by farmers' wives and daughters, and 

 much credit was due to the ladies for making the fair attractive, 

 not only by the products of their industry, but by their cheering 

 presence. 



Excellent and very fine prints and ginghams were exhibited by 

 the gentlemanly manufacturers, whose goods have long since gained 

 a world-wide reputation. In a word, every branch of productive 

 industry appeared to be represented at the fair. 



