REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 14^ 



HOUSATONIC. 



The seventeenth annual cattle show and fair of the Housa- 

 tonic Agricultural Society was held at Great Barrington on 

 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 22d, 23d, and 24th of 

 September last ; and notwithstanding the inclemency of the 

 weather, which was very severe for the season, the show 

 and the attendance were generally considered quite equal if 

 not superior to that of any one which has preceded it. 



Early on the first day, the grounds were well filled with a 

 fine show of cattle, cows, heifers, sheep, hogs and poultry, and 

 the capacious hall of the society was occupied on the one side 

 with household manufactures, including paintings and em- 

 broidery, &c., and on the other was a fine display of upwards 

 of one hundred tubs of butter, and quantities of cheese, bread, 

 honey, vegetables, seeds, &c., and in the centre were exhibited 

 the fruits and flowers. 



The cattle and cows were the finest which I have seen at 

 either of the few shows whicli I have attended. 



The butter was generally of excellent quality, and the vege- 

 tables unsurpassed ; and finer specimens of seed corn are not to 

 be found. There was some good fruit and a few flowers ; but 

 in these I was disappointed ; and the fields of corn and other 

 grains of the surrounding country told that it was rather to 

 the substantial of life than to the luxuries that the farmers of 

 Berkshire had devoted most of their energies. The old moss- 

 grown apple trees, with broken limbs reaching to the ground, 

 and stunted, gnarled fruit, seen in many an orchard, told the 

 same tale. Occasionally there are to be seen a few vigorous 

 young trees with fine fruit, showing what can be done when 

 there is a will ; and if the farmers will pay a little more atten- 

 tion to this department, they will find their fruits equal in 

 abundance to their milk and honey. 



On the second day of the show the horses were exhibited ; 

 and from early morn until noon the road was thronged with 

 vehicles, and early in the day the hall and grounds were filled 

 with anxious spectators ; and the show of horses, old and 

 young, and their trials of speed, seemed to stand first in inter- 

 est and attraction. 



