293 HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 



IIOUSATONIC AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The annual cattle show and fair of this society were held 

 at Great Barrington, on Wednesday and Thursday, 24th and 

 25th of September last. The .exhibition of agricultural pro- 

 ducts was large, and the great number and excellent quality of 

 grain crops presented for premiums, indicate that our farmers 

 are successfully giving more attention than heretofore to the 

 cultivation of these crops. The display of potatoes was very 

 fine. One specimen was presented, which was raised from 

 seed of four years' growth, and which had been entirely free 

 from the rot, while others grown in the same field have been 

 more or less affected every year. The exhibition of stock was 

 not as large as last year, although decidedly good. Products 

 of the dairy, of the spinning wheel and loom, and of the 

 garden, were in profusion and of the finest quality. 



The hall of the new centre schoolhouse was devoted to the 

 exhibition of fruit and flowers. There was a large variety of 

 choice fruits exhibited, though the yield of some varieties is 

 this year quite limited in most parts of southern Berkshire. 

 An increased attention is devoted by our people to the cultiva- 

 tion of choice fruit. 



The ploughing match on Thursday morning, was one of 

 the most important features of the occasion, and the grandest 

 spectacle of the kind we ever witnessed. A beautiful Sep- 

 tember sun looking out from a cloudless sky upon our beauti- 

 ful valley and autumnal-robed hills, the bracing air of the 

 morning and the excitement among the friends of the respec- 

 tive competitors, gave unusual life and interest to the scene. 

 The grounds were surrounded with spectators, to the number 

 of five thousand, in carriages and on foot. Twelve horse 

 teams and five ox teams were entered for the prizes, and were 

 accompanied, during their movements, by the stirring notes of 

 a band of music. 



