75 



agricultural school. The formation of an agricultural fair asso- 

 ciation is under consideration by the Pittsfield Board of Trade, 

 the local Grange and influential citizens. It has been suggested 

 that the two projects might be worked out together. Some of 

 the fair buildings, which otherwise would be unoccupied fully 

 eleven months of the year, might be used for the school. Some 

 of the school equipment and operations might contribute features 

 of very great value for carrying out the educational purposes 

 which the annual fairs would be intended to serve. 



Pittsfield is a trade and transportation center for the towns 

 of Lanesborough, Dalton, Lenox, Lee, Cheshire, Berkshire and 

 Hinsdale. This group of towns, with Pittsfield, has a total 

 population estimated at 50,000. The population is said to be 

 increasing at a rapid rate, and to be far outstripping the agri- 

 cultural development of that section of the State. 



(2) "The second group/' as described by Secretary Ellsworth, 

 " comprises Northampton, Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield. 

 These cities lie in the lower Connecticut Eiver valley. The last 

 three named are in Hampden County, and are the most popu- 

 lous. The total population is 145,500. This market group 

 draws heavily upon the productivity of the Connecticut valley 

 for 30 miles of its length and from the hills on the east and on 

 the west. The prosperous market gardeners close to the city 

 limits attest to the excellent marketing advantages of this 

 region." 



The Connecticut Valley now supplied. -- The Smith's Agri- 

 cultural School and Northampton School of Industries now in 

 operation at Northampton, and previously referred to in this re- 

 port, is equipped for serving a large area in the Connecticut 

 valley and on the neighboring hills. Students from 16 towns 

 have been enrolled for work in this school, and with but few 

 exceptions have been able to reside at home, due to the excel- 

 lence of Northampton as a transportation center. 



(3) "A third group " is that made up, according to the analy- 

 sis of Secretary Ellsworth, " of Worcester, Fitchburg and Marl- 

 borough. The former is by several thousands the largest city, 

 and no mean percentage of its people are partially self-sustain- 

 ing. The combined population is 163,500. The supply for these 

 markets comes mostly from the southern and eastern parts of 



