466 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Yonr committee is convinced that this society is destined 

 to maintain its prominent position among kindred societies. 

 The Hampshire Society has many natural advantages ; great 

 facilities for the acquisition and diffusion of scientific informa- 

 tion, and its members display remarkable activity and enter- 

 prise. 



Your committee, therefore, congratulates this board, on the 

 addition of this promising member to the agricultural family. 



MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



Exhibition of the Berkshire Society. 



According to appointment by the Massachusetts Board of 

 Agriculture, the subscriber, in September last, attended the an- 

 nual agricultural fair of the Berkshire Society, at Pittsfield. 

 This society was the first incorporated in this Commonwealth, 

 and is among the oldest in this country ; Pittsfield and the ad- 

 joining towns may be reckoned with the best farming districts 

 in the State. These towns are surrounded by mountains, giv- 

 ing, in a clear September day, a fine panoramic view. Your 

 committee was induced to stop by the way, and witness part 

 of the exhibition of the Hampden Society, at Springfield, By 

 this delay, he regrets that on his arrival at Pittsfield, he found 

 most of the live stock had left the show ground ; but those 

 which remained, oxen, sheep, swine, and fowls, gave evidence 

 that the exhibition in this department must have been excellent. 



The ploughing match was commenced early on the second 

 day of the exhibition. The morning was fine, and multitudes 

 in carriages and on foot, preceded by a fine band of music in 

 an open carriage, repaired to the field appropriated for this trial. 

 The teams, with a few exceptions, were fine in appearance, 

 both oxen and horses. The spectators gave ample room for 

 the trial. The marshal of the day preserved excellent order, 

 and gave, in a clear voice, the directions to be observed. There 

 was no urging of teams, — no noise, — all was done by old whip- 

 sters, or without the lash. The ploughs were from our best 

 manufacturers, and the work was well executed. The plough 



