468 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Two days are devoted to the exhibition. All animals, all 

 agricultural productions and fruits, all manufactured articles, 

 and indeed everything oifered for premium, are presented on 

 the first day and examined by the respective committees. At 

 the close of this day, all animals may, if their owners choose, 

 be taken away. 



The second day is devoted to the ploughing match, which 

 is held in the morning, and subsequently to the anniversary 

 address, reports of committees, distribution of premiums, &c. 

 The premiums are paid in silver plate, and distributed by the 

 marshals of the day to the successful competitors, as their 

 names occur in the reading of the reports by the secretary. 

 This method of presentation, this kind of public coronation of 

 the victor, doubtless has its legitimate influence. 



This society always presents a good show of animals, par- 

 ticularly of cattle. The exhibition in this department would 

 not suffer by comparison with those of former years. The 

 fruit department is rapidly increasing in interest. Until one 

 year since, it had not been considered worthy of a distinct 

 committee, but was made an appendage to the duties of the 

 committee on butter and cheese. At that exhibition, the 

 amount and variety were so large, that a committee was ap- 

 pointed at the time, and at the subsequent annual meeting in 

 the winter, fruit was made the subject of a distinct committee- 

 ship. At the present show, a convenient room was devoted 

 exclusively to the horticultural exhibition. The display of 

 vegetables was finer than usual. The number of specimens of 

 seed corn, and of grain and grass seeds, was large and the qual- 

 ity excellent. This is, in our view, one of the most important 

 items in an agricultural exhibition, and one which the Berk- 

 shire Societies would do well to encourage by increasing both 

 the number and value of the premiums. We would make the 

 same remark in reference to agricultural implements, whether 

 manufactured in the county, or purchased out of the county 

 and kept in it for sale. The progress of agriculture is deeply 

 indebted to the improvement in implements, and any course a 

 society can take, within the bounds of their resources, to secure 

 still further improvements, will bring a rich reward. 



