808 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The exhibition of 18G0 was the iiincteentli in tlie series of 

 annual exhibitions held under the auspices of the society. The 

 society after the expei'iment of a two days' fair the year 

 previous, has gone back to its former practice of holding it 

 during three days. It has altogether outgrown the two days' 

 system, and to endeavor to compress its exercises within that 

 limit, would be like striving to put a growing boy into the 

 boots he wore a dozen years ago. 



The display of stock on the grounds on the first day, especially 

 the neat stock, was remarkably fine. It is a general remark 

 among the farmers of ^outh Berkshire, how superior in quality 

 all kinds of live stock have become within the last ten years. 

 Stock which took first premiums during the infancy of the 

 society, would hardly be looked at seriously now-a-days with 

 a view to the bestowal of premiums. 



This is owing very much to the private enterprise of many 

 wealthy amatenr stock-growers who have come among us, but 

 also very much to the influence of the agricultural society, 

 which by the opportunities it presents for mutual comparisons 

 of the various kinds and grades of stock raised by our people, 

 and the emulation it incites, cannot but make itself felt and 

 appreciated in the year-by-year improvement which is mani- 

 fested. 



As to the ladies' department, we can say that we never saw 

 finer specimens of dairy productions. The butter and cheese 

 was fully up to the standard which Berkshire County has ever 

 maintained. In the way of needle-work of all kinds, we are 

 sorry that we see so little exhibited, and that little of so un- 

 substantial a character. We do not see as miich of homemade 

 flannels, rag-carpeting, mittens, and hose, bed-spreads and other 

 useful products of female handicraft as we could wish. The 

 days of old-fashioned looms and spinning-wheels have indeed 

 pretty much gone l)y. We are almost sorry for it, — but the 

 same enterprise which has banished the implements of yesterday 

 has introduced the new ones of to-day. Wo could wish, where 

 either one or the other must be dispensed with, that sewing 

 machines might be generally preferred by our young ladies, 

 over piano-fortes. We have not advanced beyond that stage 

 in human affairs, when lyame industry must look about itself 



