APPENDIX. XXXV 



to the increasing populations of the world, — to the ever increasing 

 demand for bread. Let the State not refuse her aid when the duty 

 is becoming more important and apparent to her people. 



Since the fair we have received published documents from this 

 society, showing their good working condition, and opening all 

 their transactions to the public eye, not only to invite investigation, 

 but also to offer to all interested in it the fullest information. 



Wm. Knowlton. 



HOOSAC VALLEY. 



In obedience to the appointment of this Board, I attended the 

 eleventh annual fair of the Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society, 

 which waa held at North Adams, on the twentieth, twenty-first and 

 twenty-second of September. 



A visit to the valley of the Hoosac cannot, under any circum- 

 stances, fail to be interesting and instructive. The Commonwealth 

 has not within her limits a spot which displays more creditably the 

 intelligence and enterprise of her people. A mountain lying across 

 the traveller's path affords an opportunity for the exhibition of an 

 engineering skill and indomitable energy, which are proceeding 

 with unerring certainty to pierce the solid rock with a long avenue, 

 through which the commerce of the east and west may pass. The 

 waters of the turbulent mountain streams are made to supply the 

 power for a variety of manufactures. Something of the super- 

 abundant labor of the old world is here made available. 



The miner from Cornwall brings his energy and skill, and the 

 Celestial Empire sends her children half around the Avorld ta con- 

 tribute to these productive industries. 



In the midst of such surroundings it is but natural to expect the 

 farmers to conduct the business of the farm with a good deal of 

 sagacity and vigor. The excellence of the display at the exhibi- 

 tion attended by your delegate certainly leflected much credit upon 

 them. Of the show outside the hall, that of the cattle was large ' 

 and of a superior quality. There were a few fine specimens of 

 Jersey and Ayrshire stock, but the valuable cattle were to a great 

 extent Durhams. There were some excellent sheep, both of the 

 fine and coarse wool. There is much force in the suggestion made 

 by the committee, that more attention should be paid by the farm- 

 ers of this society, to the raising of coarse-wool sheep. The horses 

 upon the grounds were numerous, and comprised not only the large, 

 strong-limbed and muscular animal adapted to the heavy work of 



