140 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



scriber would respectfully suggest the condensing of reports in 

 future, and let the remarks go into the transactions of the 

 society, instead of taking the time and wearying the patience 

 to an unreasonable extent. 



I should not be true to my own feelings were I not to express 

 my thanks to the officers of the society, and mine host of the 

 Antique House, for the very polite attention and hospitality 

 which I received, rendering my sojourn with the Hampden 

 Eastern Agricultural Society during their fair exceedingly 

 pleasant. 



JosiAH White. 



BERKSHIRE. 



It has been my pleasure, since I became a member of the Board 

 of Agriculture, to visit the extremes of our Commonwealth. I 

 have traversed over the sandy plains of Barnstable and Nan- 

 tucket, and now I am permitted to climb the far-famed hills of 

 old Berkshire. I find thrift and enterprise wherever I go. The 

 agricultural interest of our Commonwealth is evidently advanc- 

 ing. Our farmers are learning the true secret, that soils 

 exhausted by excessive culture, must be fed before a plentiful 

 harvest can be obtained. 



On the 7th of October last, it being the second day of the 

 meeting of the Berkshire Agricultural Society, I arrived at 

 Pittsfield. It was a dreary, unpropitious day. The first day of 

 their exhibition was beautiful, which afforded an opportunity of 

 making a very fine display of their stock, which was spoken of 

 in terms of high commendation. On my arrival, warm-hearted 

 and generous friends escorted me to that delightful eminence 

 where stands the hall of one of the most ancient agricultural 

 societies in our Commonwealth. Here I found in great abun- 

 dance the products of the hand, as well as the products of the 

 soil. The fine display of an infinite variety of potatoes and 

 squashes, turnips and cabbages, more especially those seventy- 

 three varieties of corn, all tended to show that old Berkshire is 

 not a whit behind her neighbors in laying up in store for time 

 to come. Even Nantucket was there represented in her far- 



