MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 697 



I was very sorry to see this society cramped as they were 

 for room to arrange the different articles brought in for exhibi- 

 tion. Truly they have outgrown their accommodations, and 

 should provide for themselves a large tent or hall for future 

 convenience. 



The fruits and (lowers were arranged in the hall of one of 

 the village school-houses, some twenty rods from the town 

 hall. The collection of fruits was large and splendid, far ex- 

 ceeding any one of the kind I have seen in the county, while 

 that of flowers was not large, though beautiful and well 

 arranged. I was much gratified to see the famers of Berkshire 

 paying so much attention to the cultivation of choice fruit. 

 The exhibition of pears was not as large as that of other 

 fruits, though there were some specimens of a very fine quality. 



The grain crop, owing to the drought, was not as good as in 

 former years; yet the competition was large and spirited. 

 There was some fine specimens of potatoes which appeared as 

 in former years. The crop was good. 



The show of cattle was not as large as has been some years 

 past, owing to the drought, yet the beautiful grove a few rods 

 west of the village was probably never before graced with as 

 fine a quality of stock. 



I noticed a very fine pair of three-year old steers owned by 

 Mr. M. Laird, of Great Barrington ; they were of the first 

 order, and sold on the ground for two hundred dollars. 



Some others were very large and nice, which were sold 

 during the fair for prices a shade below. 



The competition on sheep and swine was large, and I noticed 

 in particular a sow and ten pigs, belonging to A. F. Barnes of 

 Great Barrington, that were extra. This family was sold a 

 few days after the fair for seventy dollars. Other families of 

 swine were there, of similar beauty. 



The exhibition of fowls was large, and occupied a very 

 respectable position on the show grounds. 



That of horses was large, and the competitions for premiums 

 closely contested. 



The mechanical productions exhibited were small; I saw 

 nothing worthy of note. 



The ploughing match, on Thursday morning, was a grand 

 affair. A clear, bright sunshine, beaming upon the valley of 



