MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 691 



In addition to the plough and the loom, paraded in procession 

 at their first show in 1811, was a miniature woollen factory in 

 full operation. What then appeared only in miniature, has 

 since so fully developed its power, as to fill the valleys of 

 Berkshire with beautiful and comfortable dwellings, and to 

 people her hills with a class of independent yeomanry, second 

 to none in energy and intelligence. The men are proportioned 

 to the hills they inhabit. We had to look up to get a view of 

 their eyes. The mountain air, and the mountain labor, are 

 admirably adapted to rear a race of men altogether more ener- 

 getic than those who are pent up in the half ventilated apart- 

 ments of mechanical industry. More dollars may be earned 

 in such employments, but dollars alone are not the acquisitions 

 to be regarded by the State. That State which would have 

 men worthy the name of men, should have regard to those 

 employments which tend to develop their physical energies, 

 and to fit them to do some service when such services are 

 needed, either in the senate or in the field. How else may we 

 hope to replenish the giant minds of our country, so many of 

 whom have recently been summoned home. 



As one passes along the vallies of the Housatonic and Hoo- 

 sic Rivers, a spirit of improvement is apparent, extending from 

 the mountain tops across the wide-spread plains below, all of 

 which are checkered with luxuriant fields of corn and grain. 



The substantial churches erected on the foundations laid by 

 our Puritan Fathers, and the pleasantly located school-rooms 

 in every district, show that the elements of true greatness are 

 here. Where a people have a full supply of the necessaries 

 and conveniences of life, as the result of their own industry, this 

 people are truly independent. More than this leads to tempta- 

 tion, often without deliverance from evil. 



A distinguishing feature in the operations of this Society is 

 their system of viewing crops while growing. One hundred 

 ninety-tivo entries of this description were reported by the view- 

 ing committee, all of which had been visited by them, occupy- 

 ing at least one week's time. If followed by statements in detail 

 of culture and produce, as they should be, together with a precise 

 description of the condition of the land when the culture was 

 commenced, the time, manner, and depth of ploughing, the 

 kind and quantity of manure applied, &c., &c., a mass of useful 



