300 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



AGRICULTURE OF WESTERN HAMPSHIRE. 



BY M. F. "WATKl.VS. 



The Highland Agricultural Society held its annual exhibi- 

 tion at Middlcfield, Hampshire County. The charter granted 

 designed to embrace that portion of Hampshire, Hampden and 

 Berkshire Counties in a degree remote from other societies. 



The towns in proximity are Washington, Bccket, Chester, 

 Worthington, Peru and Hinsdale. The majority of members 

 reside within the circle mentioned, yet there are many in towns 

 more remote. 



The geographical survey represents a district mountainous 

 and broken, with high ridges, deep, narrow valleys, and abun- 

 dant streams created and fed by crystal springs from a thousand 

 hills. The soil is various, it being peat, muck, loam, sand and 

 gravel, black and yellow loam predominating. 



This district is naturally adapted to grazing. Ourselves, con- 

 tent with Nature's plan, have yielded cheerfully to the special 

 requirements of the locality where our good fortunes have 

 placed us, and never attempt to cultivate the soil only in a 

 limited manner. We spend but little strength ploughing and 

 hoeing, or sowing and reaping. Nature has done our sowing ; 

 our domestic animals do, to a great extent, our reaping. 



The average size of our farms would be about two hundred 

 acres. The amount tilled is nearly as follows : One acre of 

 corn, two of potatoes, three of oats, buckwheat and barley ; 

 sometimes a few rods of carrots, turnips, beans or pease ; the 

 aggregate amount being six or seven acres to each farm. 



The corn crop is considered a paying crop only upon a small 

 scale ; as we increase the amount beyond what we can manage 

 very nicely, we decrease the profit. The potato crop is far more 

 remunerating, and attended with much less expense. The fact 

 that our farmers raise two acres of potatoes as often as one of 

 corn, is sufficient proof that the potato crop pays best. 



The average yield of potatoes per acre is about 150 bushels ; 

 the average selling price about fifty cents ; amounting to $75. 

 The average amount of corn per acre, 40 bushels ; selling price, 

 about eighty cents ; amounting to 832. The average crop of 

 oats and barley is about 30 bushels. 



Our meadows embrace that portion of our farms which has 

 the smoothest surface and is easiest of access. Two-thirds of 



