G2 Resume. 



RES UM E. 



We know not how better to commence a resume of the year's work, than by quo- 

 ting, from recollection, a remark of our worthy President, J. E. Merrill, Esq., at 

 the opening of the third day's proceedings at the annual fair : " AVe are called upon 

 for a grateful recognition of the goodness of our Heavenly Father, that while other 

 parts of our Commonwealth and the neighboring States are parched and brown from 

 the excessive drouth of the past season, and the exhibitions of their Societies are far 

 below their usual standard of excellence, showers have descended upon us, and our 

 lulls and valleys are green ; our crops abundant ; our Hall, once so ample, is over- 

 flowing with the products of the farm, the garden and the orchard, and our grounds 

 and enclosures never before saw so fine a display of domestic animals." Surely our 

 hearts should respond to this, and our thanksgiving should be large and free. 



Fears were once entertained that the old Berkshire Society, which, without an- 

 cestry or pedigree, has a; name more honorable than "Mother of Presidents," 

 would be eclipsed, lost and forgotten, in the multitude of societies springing up 

 around her ; that her own daughters would divide the inheritance between them, 

 and leave her but an empty name. But with Aaron and Hur, the one on the right 

 hand and the other on the left, to hold up her hands, she has strength in their 

 strength, and grows strong with their prosperity. She has expended money most 

 freely, has a very valuable property in her grounds.and fixtures, and not an empty 

 treasury. She has about a thousand members. All, whose annual tax is due for 

 three years, are struck from her catalogue. By this she loses something in money 

 and nominal strength, but gains in working power and efficiency. The three days 

 of the Fair were very fine, and the attendance of brave men and fair ladies without 

 precedent. 



Some years since the Society, after considerable effort, abolished " extra premi- 

 ums. ' ' Some Committees attempted to evade this by taking premiums not competed 

 for, and giving them as extras on something else. This was stopped, and for some 

 time the awards were made as the Society directed ; but in handling the reports we 

 &ee the old errors creeping in, — in some cases walking in erect. One Committee, 

 composed of ex-officers of the Society, awarded about sixty dollars where the Society 

 offered but forty. We notice some palpable errors in awarding premiums on arti- 

 cles which belong in another department by plain specification. These may be called 

 little things, but if cherished, by neglect even, they will grow larger. 



By extra exertion of the Secretary, the reports reached us only two weeks after 

 the time. They were generally prepared with a good degree of care. Occasionally 

 one comes, made on the knee, with a poor pencil, perhaps on the paper of entries, 

 with the awards sandwiched in among the entries, and with all the changes, Inver- 

 sions, interlineations and erasures which were made during the examination. These 

 are read by guessing what theygought to be. A few of the reports are of the accom- 

 modation class. They remind us of the couplet^ending with 

 " What you'd have it make it,"' 



