516 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



capped, and all in good repair. There are 30 acres under the 

 plow, 35 in meadow, 50 in pasture, and 25 in wood. 



The usual crops are raised with a high average yield. From 

 two to three tons of plaster are annually sown. Manny's mower 

 and reaper is in use at an estimated saving of 33 per cent. 

 Farm work is done with oxen and horses, and the farm is now 

 stocked with young cattle. This farm has a light sandy soil, with 

 a slight sprinkling of clay and subsoil of clay. It has a general 

 appearance of thrift and high culture, and with some few improve- 

 ments would in our judgment be entitled to the first prize. 



We were very much pleased in this day of fast young men and 

 fast horses, to hear the proprietor's son speak decidedly as he did 

 in favor of oxen as an economical and convenient team for farm 

 use. We endorse his sentiments most fully. 



The farm to which we award the third premium, Hart Massey, 

 Water town, is situated one mile west of this village. It has a 

 substantial stone farm house, with out-buildings and fences iu a 

 very fair state of repair. The soil is gravelly, with a mixture of 

 clay, and gives evidence of systematic culture. The usual crops 

 are raised with good yields. The owner has been remarkably 

 successful in the cultivation of wheat, having raised 30 bushels 

 winter wheat per acre the present season, and 30 bushels of spring 

 wheat per acre for the last two years. 



Farmers of Jefferson county, you certainly have among you 

 first class farms and first class farmers — farms of high and clean 

 culture from front to rear, with buildings and appendages in first 

 rate order, with improvements worthy of notice and encourage- 

 ment. 



Your Committee have been called upon to visit only three. Can 



we not by some means have a little more of that competition 

 which is the life of business '? 



The competition in butter and cheese is quite extensive. The 

 dairies of butter examined, with one or two exceptions, aie deci- 

 dedly good, and several are in most respects very superior. The 

 butter dairymen of this county need not be told that their butter 

 ranks high among the best judges, and that it is very much sought 

 for, especially for the Boston trade. It is undoubtedly true that 

 our butter, as a w^hole, has been very much improved within the 

 last few years; that is to say, there are many more first class 

 dairies now than five years ago. 



