Secretary's Report. 



The Annual Cattle Show and Fair of the year 1891 was of unusual interest 

 and the earnest hopes for its success were generally realized. For the first time 

 in many years the weather was fine during the entire three days of the Fair, 

 and the attendance was remarkably large each day. Tlie exhibition of thorough- 

 bred cattle and of blooded colts and horses was very large, and of a higher 

 standard of excellence than that of any previous year. The show of fruits and 

 vegetables was unusually fine, while the display of flowers and plants was by 

 far the largest and best ever seen on the fair grounds. On Wednesday, Gover- 

 nor Russell visited the grounds for a few hours, and made a short address. One 

 of the attractions that added interest to the Fair was the mammoth yoke of 

 cattle, weighing 5,400 pounds, kindly loaned by the owner, Mr. Charles R. 

 Barnum, of Lime Rock. Conn. Three' bicycle races took place on Wednesday; 

 also a successful balloon ascension, with daring trapeze performance and para- 

 chute descent, which was repeated on Thursday. On Friday, Company K, of 

 Hartford, Conn., visited the Fair, and won general applause and commendation 

 by their perfect evolutions, their handsonie uniforms, and their gentlemanly 

 conduct. They were accompanied by Colt's Band of twenty-five pieces, who 

 gave a delightful band concert in the afternoon. The intervals between the 

 trials of speed of trotting horses were occupied with foot races, potato races, 

 tug of war and other sports. Most excellent music was furnished each day of 

 the Fair by Gartland*s 10th Regiment Band, of Albany, X. Y. The entries 

 comprise 384 head of cattle, of which 136 are thoroughbred; 889 head of sheep, 

 43 swine, 212 horses, and 304 of poultry: total live stock, 1,332. There were 

 348 entries of field crops, and 907 entries in the various departments in the hall, 

 making a grand total of 2,587 entries. 



A Farmer's Institute was held at the Town Hall in Great Barrington on 

 Wednesday. January 28th. 



D. C. Millard, of Egremont, read a paper on the question, "How shall 

 awarding committees be appointed?" He proposed two ways; one of which 

 would be to select from each town its proportion of representative men, and 

 draw their names from a box. according to the jury system; another way, to 

 hire a competent judge for each department, to decide upon merits only. 



J. H. Rowley of Egremont, read a paper entitled, " Ought the Society to 

 continue to offer premiums on farms and growing farm crops?" He advocated 

 the continuance because it is in accordance with a long established custom, and 

 in obedience to the statutes of the State, also with the by-laws of the Society. 

 The subjects that had been presented were discussed bv M. I. Wheeler, S. K. 

 Williams. Jared Lewis. C. B. Benedict, W. H. Day, Robert M. Curtiss, T. S. 

 Baldwin, and others, and then the meeting was dissolved. 



An Institute was held at the Town Hall, Great Barrington, on Wednesday, 

 Februarv 11th. Theron L. Foote of Lee read a paper on " The true principles 

 of breeding." In the discussion that followed, P. A. Russell expressed his 

 opinion that a good dam adds 60 per cent, to the calf. He advocated crossing 

 the breeds to get the best results; a Jersey bull with a Guernsey or Holsteiii 

 cow, as he thinks pure Jersey milk too thick. Replying to a question, he does 

 not disapprove breeding from animals injured by accidents that do not affect 

 their usefulness. Caleb Ticknor thinks all unsoundness should be avoided in 



