xxxvi REPORTS' OF DELEGATES. 



the faitn, but also those more lightly moulded and fitted for hard 

 work and long endurance on the road and for speed. 



The exhibition within the hall was admirable. The. dei")art- 

 ments most conspicuous in merit were those of the dairy and fruits. 

 The society has occasion to congratulate itself on the foir of 1870. 

 The general management of the society is evidently in faithful and 

 competent hands. 



Your delegate is indebted to officers and friends of the society 

 for hospitality that was especially kind and courteous. 



Geo. a. King. 



HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 



The annual exhibition of the Housatonic Agricultural Society 

 was held at Great Barrington, September twenty-eighth, twenty- 

 ninth and thirtieth. The exhibition in every branch was excel- 

 lent, one leading feature of which was a large and interesting col- 

 lection of crops of all descriptions. The entries of summer crops 

 numbered 122, and consisted of wheat, rye, oats, barley, grass, and 

 garden vegetables. Tlie fall crops numbered 171, and consisted of 

 sowed corn, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, beans, mangel wurzel, 

 carrots, Swedish turnips and cabbages. x\ll these crops were care- 

 fully examined by committees appointed for that purpose ; and the 

 value of the samples presented at the fair, was gi-eatly enhanced by 

 the statements which the committees were able to make Avith re- 

 gard to the quality of the land on which they grew, and the modes 

 of cultivation. 



The products of the dairy were well represented. The forty-two 

 samples of butter were of fine quality, and gave assurance that 

 the farmers of Berkshire have lost none of their interest and skill 

 in this most important branch of the domestic economy of the farm. 

 The entries of cheese were seventeen in number, "and the opinion 

 that the farmers' wives had excelled in this production, and had 

 surpassed the factories engaged in the same business, seemed to be 

 very generally entertained. The example set by this society in 

 this respect is worthy of imitation. 



The exhibition in the hall, of fruits, flowers, domestic manufac- 

 tures, implements, and articles of taste, was admirable and extensive. 



Among the cattle, were to be found some fine fot oxen, and 

 many pairs of well trained and well shaped working oxen and 

 steers. The milch cows were of superior quality generally ; and 



