BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 339 



BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The forty-second anniversary of the Berkshire County Agri- 

 cultural Society, was celebrated on the 6th and 7th of October, 

 at Pittsfield. It was, in truth, a jubilee to the farmers of the 

 county. They felt that the seasons had been propitious to 

 most of their crops. The drought, it is true, had pinched and 

 diminished the grass crop, but the potatoes, the staple of Berk- 

 shire, had escaped the blight of former years, and other crops 

 were very good. The competitors for the premiums offered 

 on the various crops, fruit orchards, &c., was great, generous, 

 and noble, among the members of our society. 



The show of cattle was also good. The numbers and great 

 variety of sheep added much interest to the exhibition. The 

 exhibition of horses, especially in the department of mares and 

 colts, exceeded by far, anything of the kind we have ever had. 

 Many varieties of poultry added great interest to the show. 

 The increasing numbers, and greater variety of stock that our 

 fairs are bringing on the ground for exhibition, make it neces- 

 sary to arange the grounds so that the stock can be more 

 thoroughly classified for the convenience of the committees. In 

 the town hall the exhibition was highly satisfactory. Batter 

 and cheese were there in so many parcels, and in such perfec- 

 tion, that the committee could hardly agree on whom to bestow 

 the premiums. 



Fruits were there in such variety and abundance as to aston- 

 ish Berkshire people, and rebuke them too, for their want of 

 faith in the adaptedness of Berkshire soil and climate to the 

 best varieties. It is hoped that the society may soon have a 

 more capacious hall for the display of domestic fabrics, fruits, 



