Report of the State Delegate. 



The 76th annual fair of the Old Berkshire Society was held at its 

 grounds in Pittsfield, September 15, 16 and 17. 



The first day opened with sunshine and clouds, with a gentle 

 breeze which was fresh and delightful, and whenever our fairs are 

 blessed with fair weather they are generally a success. The exhibi- 

 tion of cattle, horses, sheep, swine, poultry and agricultural products 

 was one of the best ever seen in the county. The cattle depart- 

 ment was well filled with from four to five hundred animals. The 

 exhibition of milch cows was large, there being more good milk cows 

 than I had ever seen together at any county fair. 



The Shorthorns, Jerseys and Holsteins were about equally di- 

 vided, all having their staunch friends and all possessing good 

 qualities. 



The farmers of Berkshire are interested in making butter and 

 cheese, and are consequently interested in their stock. In agricul- 

 tural products Berkshire County ranks fifth, while in dairy products 

 ranks third in butter and second in cheese. The value of cows 

 alone in the county is over $750,000, horses $650,000, while the 

 value of sheep is but $42,000, being about the same value of 

 poultry. Total value of domestic animals of the county is $2,000,- 

 000, so that with the 3,800 farms of Berkshire are doing much to 

 increase the agricultural products of our commonwealth. The 

 sheep pens were well filled with 305 good well fed sheep, showing 

 that the growing of wool and mutton is not entirely abandoned by 

 the good farmers of Berkshire. 



There were twenty entries of swine and 204 horses. 



Poultry, which at the present day, is one of the leading features 

 of all our fairs, was well represented with 220 fine specimens. 



The plowing match at the Berkshire fair is not left in the cold, 

 but was alive, and was one of the finest exhibitions I ever wit- 

 nessed. It appeared to me that every one of the twenty-two teams 



