8 



of your presidents, was for many years one of the best shorthorn breeders in the 

 county. Isaac Augur, of the Hancock Shakers, a practical farmer, introduced 

 into the county thoroughbred Holsteins. Mr. E. M. Washburn of Lenox 

 Furnace, one of the most active of practical fanners, and who introduced the first 

 silo, has been the largest importer and dealer in Western Massachusetts. Mr. 

 Alonzo Bradley of Lee, another practical farmer, has been a breeder of a variety 

 of thoroughbred stock Shorthorns, Jerseys and latterly Holsteins. Mr. Wash- 

 burn and Mr. Bradley have together made several trips to Holland, selecting and 

 personally superintending the importation. Hon. Elizur Smith of Lee, bought 

 Jerseys at the Centennial regardless of price. He wished, as he always does, the 

 best. He bought also Holsteins ; latterly, however, horses have claimed a large 

 share of his attention. Mr. J. Milton Mackie of Great Barrington, a gentleman 

 farmer of literary taste, who has written several interesting books of travel as well 

 as bred some beautiful cattle, is one of the oldest breeders of Jerseys, has one of 

 the largest herds and has been to the Isle of Jersey personally making his selec- 

 tions. Mr. H. DeB. Schenck of Lenox, has selected and imported a beautiful 

 herd of Guernseys. Mr. Theron Foote of Lee, is a breeder of Ayrshires. 



There is some fine stock on farms to be seen from this hill. The farm of 500 

 acres of Mrs. Thomas Allen has a herd of registered Jerseys, some of them the 

 personal selection of her son, Mr. Thomas Allen, whose taste as an artist as well 

 as inherited good judgment is shown in the choice of the stock. Hon. Zenas 

 Crane is a breeder of Guernseys on his model dairy farm. His farm neighbor, 

 Mr. W. F. Milton, another of your presidents, on his farm of 450 acres and 1600 

 acres of pasture lands, is an importer of shorthorns. People who visit him are at 

 a loss to know which to admire the most, his cattle, his sheep, the beautiful 

 buildings and attractive surroundings, or the winning hospitality that he dispenses. 

 Mr. Mills of South Williamstown, has a fine herd of Jerseys and is a careful 

 breeder. Time would fail to mention all within the county. It is getting to be 

 quite the thing to have one or more imported animals. The exhibitions at our 

 fairs are mostly made up of throughbred stock of various kinds. There has 

 been a marked change in this matter within twenty years. What would Mr. 

 Watson say could he examine the Berkshire farms to-day? His highest hopes in 

 that direction surely have been outmatched by the facts. 



There has been a great change in the horses of the county. As we have seen, 

 horses were raised fur the market to some extent in the early part of the century. 

 The alternate plow and chaise horse of the lathers is fast disappearing. We re- 

 quire a different make up for saddle, coach, trotting, farm and draft horses. 



The Percherons lor draft horses are gradually taking the lead throughout the 

 country. They have peculiar and many merits. They are short in the back, deep 

 in the body and broad in the chest. They arc low built, short necked and com- 

 pact. They have good feel and good action. They arc line looking and attrac- 

 tive. The splendid grey owned by the State and kept for the last three 

 years on Mr. Milton's farm, and the ponderous blacks brought by Mr. W. R. Al- 

 len this spring (to the same old farm where his grandfather brought the Spanish 

 sheep over seventy years since) are as good specimens as this country can show. 

 1 (riven about our streets they do not seem to disclose their great size and compact- 



