upon the grounds gave the cattle plenty of room and could be 

 readily seen by the visitor. Some nice lambs were noticed, and a 

 herd of belted swine, in three lots, exhibited by the president, 

 attracted much attention. 



The exhibition in the hall was a superior one. Vegetables, fruit, 

 flowers and the handiwork of the ladies, all combined to show the 

 result of successful farming for the season. The display of potatoes 

 and onions was very fine, and the tastily arranged tables of fruit and 

 flowers spoke well for the Hampshire County farmers in a year when 

 fruit is not plenty. In one corner of the hall was a room fitted up 

 with a very choice collection of antique furniture, by the wife cf the 

 president and a friend, with many relics of a former generation. 

 This feature of the exhibition was a source of much interest to all 

 visitors of the fair. It was easy to observe in all departments of the 

 fair that it was purely agricultural. The managers had planned for 

 an honest exhibition of the products of the farm, and the farmers 

 had brought their products and joined heartily with their officers in 

 making it a representative farmers' festival, without any catch penny 

 side shows and acrobatic performances. But best of all was the 

 exhibition of zeal and enthusiasm on the part of the officers of the 

 society. The society has struggled under somewhat adverse condi- 

 tions for some years, till new life has been infused, and its officers 

 are using every effort to bring the fair and the society to a higher 

 level, and whose efforts meet with very high commendation from 

 your Inspector. 



(Signed) CHARLES A. GLEASON, Inspector. 



Oct. 2, 1899. 



