326 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



exhibitors, and showed, both in the useful and fancy articles, 

 that what the ladies of Hoosac Valley do, they do well. 



The second day was not as windy and uncomfortable as the 

 first, and the attendance was quite large. Indeed, the whole 

 population of Northern Berkshire seemed to have made it a 

 holiday. 



Of horses, there were seventy-one entries, and among them 

 many fine animals, many of them showing excellent points for 

 strength, and especially for endurance, or, to use a horseman's 

 phrase, for bottom. 



Not being able to remain through the afternoon, I can give 

 no account of the society's dinner, nor the address by the Hon. 

 Henry L. Dawes, nor of the trial of speed by the horses ; all of 

 which may help to keep up an interest in, but ought not to be 

 essential to, the life and prosperity of an ag-ricultural society. 



This society seems to be in a prosperous condition. With 

 ample grounds, a good hall, and well managed, its receipts for 

 the two days were $850, or $50 more than last year. 



My acknowledgments are due to the officers of the society, 

 and especially Mr. Johnson, of North Adams, for kind attentions 

 during my stay in their pleasant village. 



Sherman Converse. 



BRISTOL. 



The fortieth annual exhibition of the Bristol County Agri- 

 cultural Society was held at Taunton,October 6th, 7th,and 8th, 

 and your delegate was on the grounds the morning of the 6th. 

 The grounds of this society lie some jmile and a half or two 

 miles from the town, and are beautifully adapted to the pur- 

 poses for which they are now used. The first thing attracting 

 attention, after entering the gates, is the fine clump of trees 

 which skirt this side of the grounds, making a cool and pleasant 

 shade. 



After a short walk we find ourselves in full and close view of 

 the magnificent hall, just finished at an expense of $11,500, 

 and now occupied in a finished state for the first time. It is a 

 three-story building, 150 feet long, by 100 feet wide. The base- 



