APPENDIX. xxxvii 



HOUSATONIC. 



The plan of the Housatonic Agricultural Society' involves an exhi- 

 bition and a social re-union of its members, lasting three daj^s. How 

 long this custom has existed I am not informed, but certainl}' the 

 first field-daj" of its thirt3'-second annual exhibition, did not open 

 with an}' deficiency of agricultural fervor apparent to a stranger. 

 Some of our societies, with an annual two da^^s' basking in the sun, 

 feel that their mission is quite accomplished, and retire to sleep the 

 rest of the 3'ear. I am, unhappily, unable to inform the Board, 

 whether in the case of the Housatonic Societ}^, the three daj's of 

 effort bring exhaustion, and whether on the morning of the 24th of 

 September, it has to be awakened with a louder thud than is be- 

 coming its dignity; I suspect, however, from several circumstances 

 that occur to me, that the three days' work excites no untoward 

 influence, but on the contrary', is so far invigorating as to lift the 

 Societ}' into an atmosphere where breathing is a pleasure, and not 

 a task. 



I esteemed it fortunate, as my sojourn with the Society could not 

 extend be^'ond one da}^, that this was the first of the exhibition. 

 This was devoted to the diversified interests of agriculture, and 

 the hall and grounds were in their quiet possession. 



The teaching of drawing in our public schools, and the encourage- 

 ment extended to the stud}' of form and arts of design, is likely to 

 lead, in general, to a showing of better work at our fairs. Some 

 small drawings engaged my attention that are worthy of mention. 

 I am glad to observe that the Society encourages both household 

 manufactures and household arts. 



The long lines of firkins of butter — sixt}- entries — spoke the interest 

 taken in the dair}'. Among the firkins, was one filled with butter 

 of a more golden hue than the others ; but whether the Jerse}' cow, 

 of which this was the product, aff'ords more, or that of better flavor 

 than some others, it will require some nice experiments to deter- 

 mine. Let these result as they may, the kindly, almost affectionate 

 care the Jersey cow receives in general, and the much attention 

 given to the making of the butter, that it shall he as good as it can 

 be, — all this is exerting so wholesome an influence, that at any rate 

 we ought not to wish her awa}^ without a blessing. 



The interesting display of butter in the hall increased my desire 

 to hasten to the cattle-pens without, to discover, if possible, whether 

 the dair}' interest was fitly supported b}^ the breed or quality of the 

 animals on exhilntion. The grade animals, which constituted the 

 larger number, indicated a various ancestry. There were less of 



