BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 89 



We award to D. F. Goodrich, the premium offered for the 



best managed house of honey bees, . . . . $5 

 To Dan Bradley, an extra premium for second best, . 3 



JUSTUS TOWER, Chairman. . 



Herds Grass Seed. 



Several lots were offered for premium, all of which, say the 

 committee (William Bacon, Chairman), were of better quality 

 than is usually obtained in market. Although there were but 

 two premiums offered on this article, we are fully confident that 

 no applicant will regret the pains he has taken to provide from 

 his own farm, and by his own labor, any quantity of grass seed 

 he has so secured. The importance of thorough and liberal 

 stocking is becoming more appreciated by the agricultural com- 

 munity, and there is no more reason for the farmer's procuring 

 his grass seed from some distant part of the country every year, 

 and thereby sending off more than his loose change, than there 

 would be for his buying his seed oats or his seed rye every 

 sowing. 



Ploughing Match. 



In their remarks in the Show Bill, the officers of the Society 

 state, that " the first ploughing match, in Berkshire, was at the 

 Show in 1818. There were only two premiums offered, and 

 but four competitors, three of whom belonged to Pittsfleld. Of 

 the ploughs used, one only was of cast iron. At the present 

 day, a wooden mould-board plough is very rarely to be seen. 

 This fact alone demonstrates, in the clearest possible manner, 

 the incalculable advantages the public derive from Agricultural 

 Societies." 



In their report the committee say, " The annual work of the 

 plough must be performed, or men must famish and die. All 

 associations for the promotion of agriculture have made the 

 first and continued objects of their encouragement, the improve- 

 ments in the form and skill in the use of the plough. So we 

 find that, among our annual exhibitions, that which has attract- 

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