sec:retary's f^EPoiri. 



The first Farmers' Institute for 1895 was heH in the Town Hall, Great 

 Barrington, on Februar}- 12. The subject was "Tuberculosis in Cattle," by 

 Prof. James B. Paige of Amherst, Mass. A most interesting and instructive 

 address was attentively listened to by the seventy farmers present. Prof. 

 Paige handling the subject in a masterly manner. A short discussion fol- 

 lowed the lecture, Messrs. M. I. Wheeler, C. B. Benedict, F. A. Palmer, 

 T. S. Baldwin and others taking part. A second meeting was the joint 

 Farmers' Institute under the auspices of the Berkshire and Housatonic 

 Agricultural Societies, which was held in Grange Hall, Lee, Mass, Tuesday, 

 March 12. The speaker of the morning session was Elbridge Cushman, 

 Esq. of lyakeville, Mass., a successful and well-known dairN-man, who dis- 

 cussed the subject, "The Cost of a Quart of Milk." Ex-Senator S. A. 

 Hickox of Williamstown, Mass., was the speaker at the afternoon session. 

 Mr. Hickox explained by two charts "Relative Proportions of Nutriment" 

 and " Value of Feeds." Both addresses proved to be pleasing and^instruc- 

 tive and were enjoyed by the seventv-five or more people present. The 

 third and last Institute for 1895 was held at the Town Hall, Great Barrington, 

 on November 26. Subject, "Management of a Dairy Farm," which 

 was well handled by Mr. George L. Clemence of Globe Village, Mass., a 

 member of the State Boaid of Agriculture and a practical farmer. 



The society has invested considerable money the past year in improve- 

 ments at: the Fair Grounds. An extension of sixty feet has been added 

 to the north end of the grand stand, and the additional receipts from the 

 sale of seats prove that this was a wise investment. 



Horse stalls 100 feet long and fourteen feet wide were built on the east 

 side of the track, which also proved to be a judicious investment and a great 

 convenience. 



The society was very fortunate this year in the almost perfect weather 

 that prevailed all three days. The exhibits in general were good. The 

 trotting was perhaps, not all that could be desired, althongh great effort was 

 made on the part of the trotting committee to secure an attractive list of 

 entries. The special attractions were of unsual merit and consisted of 

 Harry Roncoe, trick bicyclist ; Romalo Brothers, head balancers : Miss May 

 Stewart, the accomplished horsewoman ; Prof O. G. Seymour, trick and 

 high jumper, and Prof. J. H. Burton, with eleven performing dogs. These, 

 together with other pleasing events, provided an almost continuous per- 

 formance, which elicited much praise and applause from the great crowds 

 that thronged the grand stand. 



This feature of our successful fair has become an absolute necessity, as 

 the people, wearied by ^the exciting scenes and jostling crowd, desire and 



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