That this feeling of friennliness toward the manufacturing interests has outlasted 



the years and exists as strongly to-day as ever is evinced by the reception of the 

 sentiment and remarks of Hon. Ashahel Foote, another of your presidents, himself a 

 practical farmer, at "the Farmer's Festival" in 1S67, wherein he described agri- 

 culture, manufactures and commerce as "three sisters of mercy," and expressed the 

 hope that they might never "fall out by the way" but be of "one mind," their only 

 provocation that "to love and good \yorks" and their only rivalry the "effort to 

 augment the sum of human happiness." 



As we have seen, it was thought wise by the founders of this society to encour- 

 age manufactures "as subservient" to agriculture. They builded wiser than they 

 knew. Manufacturing has increased the population, added to the wealth and built 

 up the county in many ways, and all the while had an influence for good upon 

 agriculture." Like the early farmers, the pioneer manufacturers found their capital 

 in pluck and hard work. They built up their industries from the ground. Unlike 

 most other communities the county of Berkshire struggled on without the aid of 

 capital from abroad. That has been introduced into the county in recent years, 

 and to a limited extent. It was found years ago that the two streams originating 

 near each other, the Housatonic and the Hoosac, one flowing southerly into the 

 Sound and the other northwesterly into the Hudson, were capable of being im- 

 pressed into useful service. The water power was abundant. 



The result has been that manufacturing villages occupy every stream in the 

 valleys, and the hillside farms, unable to compete with the vast and fertile fields of 

 the west, find a home market at their very doors, the result of the wise forethought 

 of the fathers. 



In the period immediately following the organization of your society there was 

 evidenced great growth in the methods of farming. In 1820 Mr. Watson, on re- 

 visiting Berkshire, could say, "since that epoch f"i8lo) your system of husbandry 

 has undergone a great revolution although you have only passed the threshold in 

 approaching agriculture as a science. Your household manufactures are greatly im- 

 proved and extended, as well as your domestic animals; the latter in a special man- 

 ner. In fine, the general face of your county has assumed a new and cheerful 

 aspect." 



In this tribute to the general improvement he but concurred with the testimony 

 given by Major Melville, your president in 1816, and, too, the report of the view- 

 ing committee for 1820 bears similar testimony to the usefulness of the society. 

 How just, too, in connection with this, to quote the words of Mr. Coleman in 

 1838 : "All agree that in respect to the county of Berkshire, the best effects have 

 reulted from its agricultural society. It has everywhere excited and cherished a 

 spirit of generous emulation, and men of the highest distinction in the county for 

 education, character, political standing and wealth, give their time and zeal to 

 its excellent objects." 



There is no doubt from concurrent testimony that the benefits of this society 

 were immediate and permanent. It had the proud honor of furnishing a model 

 for organizations of a like nature throughout the country, and the Farmers' Clubs 

 and the "Grange" itself are but the natural outgrowth of the ideas of its founders, 



