500 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



in the impenetrable gloom. So the second day 

 closed upon the 45th Anniversary of the Old Berk- 

 shire Society. 



But Friday — who says that Friday is always an 

 unluckt day ? — Friday morning, bright and early, 

 the sun came flashing over the eastern hills, and 

 sent his warm and cheering beams into every nook 

 of that rich and lovely valley. Up went the mists 

 from the meadows and hill-tops, and once more 

 shone the gorgeous dyes on their sides ; the cocks 

 crowed and strutted in their harems, with unbound- 

 ed gusto, and geese and ducks, and pigs and horses 

 and oxen and calves and sheep, each lent a note so 

 as to render the harmony complete ! Children 

 clapped their little hands in delight in view of the 

 ride, and ginger-bread and buns, and music and 

 races that were before them, and sq the mothers 

 were happy and the fathers glad ; the whole world 

 of Berkshire turned out, the gates were thrown 

 open, and the Success of the 45 th Fair became a 

 « fixed fact." 



The first exercise was that of Plowing. The bills 

 stated that the teams would start at "9 o'clock A. 

 M.," but it was nearly 11 before the chains were 

 straightened. Thirteen teams plowed, on a gravel- 

 ly loam, and did the work moderately well. The 

 plows used were all single, and one of them had a 

 cast iron beam. There was but one pair of oxen 

 which exhibited anything but the most common 

 training, and they Avere also the finest in proportions, 

 being attentive to the driver's language, strong, and 

 quick in their motions. A pair of black, and a pair 

 of grey horses, were also well-matched, and well- 

 trained. The black pair we afterwards saw attached 

 to a carriage, where they did themselves and dri- 

 ver as much credit, as they did with the plow. Six 

 inches in depth, and twelve in width, were required. 

 The ground was imfevorable in two particulars — it 

 was ridgy and full of pebbles, so that it would be 

 difficult to make handsome work, even with skilful 

 teams and men. 



Then came the riding on horseback around the 

 course, by ladies, and a very pleasant and attractive 

 feature it was — and then the 



Exercises in the Great HL^ll. 



These consisted of excellent music by the Long- 

 meadow band, and an address, by the Hon. JULIUS 

 Rockwell, President of the Society. It is a com- 

 mon law in the Society, that the President shall 

 continue to act as such two years, and on the retir- 

 ing year shall deliver the address, and an excellent 

 law it is. He took for his subject, The thoughts 

 OF the young Farmer, and showed first, that the 

 lessons and haliits of early life are never forgotten. 

 Then he spoke of his initiatory steps into the art 

 and mystery of farming, such as yoking, and break- 

 ing the steers, and other incidents illustrative of the 

 whole; — and of his choice of occupation a little la- 



ter. He said a thorough training on the farm was 

 capital to the young farmer, as education is capital 

 to the doctor, lawyer, or clergj'man. He spoke of 

 the professions, gave a budget of good reasons, for 

 not going West, painted the autumnal scenery of 

 New England in glowing colors, spoke of the re- 

 som'ces of the county, recited the bounties of the 

 commonwealth, then most felicitously married the 

 Young Farmer to one of the handsome, healthy, 

 well-educated, and intelligent daughters of the New 

 England hills, and closed his address. A brief ad- 

 dress, by the Editor of the JVew England Farmer, 

 and another by Dr. H. D. Childs, formerly Lieut. 

 Governor of the Commonwealth, followed, and then 

 the beautiful silver plate, amounting in value to hun- 

 dreds of dollars, was distributed to the individuals 

 to whom it had been awarded by the various com- 

 mittees. Afterwards there was trotting on the 

 course, and the Fair closed, by a grand ball, in the 

 evening, in the great hall on the Society's grounds. 



The exhibition of fi'uits and vegetables was mea- 

 gre ; that of butter and cheese was large, and of the 

 finest quality ; of domestic manufactures there was 

 a considerable display of carpets, rugs, hosiery, and 

 embroidered work, such as collars, skirts, &c. A few 

 loaves of bread only were seen, and that of quite an 

 ordinary appearance. 



The exhibition, on the whole, was one of great 

 merit and interest, though in some respects defi- 

 cient. There was an evident want of taste and ar- 

 rangement in the articles shown in the Hall, and of 

 punctuality in the time of commencing the several 

 exercises of the day; while the choice of location, 

 the construction and arrangement of buildings, the 

 mode of distributing premiums, and the excellent 

 butter and cheese presented, are all worthy the high- 

 est commendation. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HEMLOCK HEDGES. 



Respected Friends : — I should be very glad to 

 get a little information of you or any of your sub- 

 scribers concerning how to obtain a hemlock hedge ; 

 whether to set the young trees, or get it from the 

 seed. I have heard of such a hedge, but do not 

 know how to obtain one easy and right. An an- 

 swer at your convenience would oblige me much. 



South Lee, Sept., 1855. c. J. p. 



Remarks. — Either way. But by setting young 

 plants you gain much time. We have seen some 

 handsome hedges of the hemlock. They may be 

 pruned into beautiful forms. 



Manure. — If land is too sandy, the best manure 

 I is clay and leached ashes. These will puddle it, and 

 render it tenacious of water. If it is heavy clay, it 

 'requires sand to render it porous. If it is a muck, 

 j it requires lime to neutraHze the acid, and destroy 

 ] the antiseptic or resinous quality of the soil. 



