SECRETARY'S REPORT. 133 



pected, even in the valley of the Connecticut, except in that 

 part about Springfield. 



All the arrangements of the exhibition were such as to meet 

 the approbation of your delegate. The Hampden Society is 

 doing well. This brief statement is respectfully submitted. 



J. A. Nash. 



BERKSHIRE. 



By an appointment of the State Board of Agriculture, I was 

 present at Pittsfield on the 4th and 5th days of October. 



It was the forty-fourth anniversary of one of the oldest agri- 

 cultural societies in the State. 



The morning of the fourth was dull and rainy. The farmers 

 came in slowly, and made their entries still more slowly. At 

 eleven o'clock there were but few specimens on the ground ; 

 but towards noon the clouds disappeared, the sun came forth, 

 and the effect was soon visible in every department of the ex- 

 hibition. A visit to the cattle ground at two o'clock showed 

 as fine a collection of animals as it was ever my good fortune 

 to behold. The show of fat cattle was good, and the working 

 oxen I have never seen excelled. 



I would mention in particular those owned by Mr. Willis, of 

 Pittsfield, and Mr. Andrews, of New Marlboro' ; also a pair of 

 three-year-old steers, owned by the last-named gentlemen, all 

 of which were of large size, fine form, and superior quality — the 

 oxen named being but four years old, and weighing 4,000 

 pounds to the pair. 



The exhibition of cows was large, and did credit to the 

 society. There was a respectable show of sheep. 



The swine and poultry were by no means inferior. The ex- 

 hibition in the hall was uncommonly interesting. The quantity 

 and variety of domestic and fancy articles displayed the skill 

 and ingenuitv of the ladies. 



