228 



each of the awarding corainitteos. The trial will be conducted in the 

 main nnder the rules of the reaper trial held at Dixon, Illinois, which 

 were also adopted at the last World's Fair held in France, viz : 1. Quality 

 of work, representing perfection, 40. 2. Simplicity of construction, rep- 

 resenting perfection, 10. 3. Durability of construction, representing 

 perfection, 15. 4. Ease of draft, representing perfection, 20. 5. Market 

 price, 5. 6. Facility of management, 10. A perfect machine, (reaper or 

 mower,) 100. Entry fees of $5 to $10 will be charged for machines. 



The award will be the certificate of the Missouri State Board of Agri- 

 culture, and that to be the first and only rewp.rd. 



The Ohio State Board of Agriculture will conduct a competitive trial 

 of reapers and mowers at Mansfield, Ohio, during the coming harvest; 

 the trial to commence at such time as wheat may be in proper condition 

 to test the machines, and mil continue from day to day until all ma- 

 chines are satisfactorily tried. The scale of merits, as agreed upon by 

 the committee, is the same as that adopted for the Missouri trial. The 

 first prize will be a gold medal for the best reaping machine; the sec- 

 ond, a gold medal for the best mowing machine ; the third, a gold medal 

 for the best reaping and mowing machine. 



V/EST NEWBUEY FAKMERS' CLUB. 



Hints tor the guidance of farmers' clubs may prove ot great advan- 

 tage to agriculturists. These primary organizations, inexpensive, social, 

 and informal, should bring out much of individuality, variety, and orig- 

 inality, and prove to be of great local utility. As a contribution to the 

 general fund of interest in these organizations, the following facts con- 

 cerning the Farmers' Club of West Newburj-, Massachusetts, are given : 



At a recent meeting a committee of six members was chosen to visit 

 eighteen farms, belonging to members of the club, examine buildings, 

 cattle, and other animals, note the general management pertaining to 

 the farm, and report upon the same at some future meeting of the club. 

 Calvin Eogers, Wm. Merrill, S. E. ISToyes, Amos Poor, and Thomas G. 

 Ordway, were chosen the committee of examination. The following 

 subjects for discussion were also agreed upon : 



1. Pasture lands — how improved ; how much per acre will it do to 

 lay out for improvements ; comi)arative condition now and twenty-five 

 years ago. 



2. Ought Ave to set out apple and pear trees? What is the general 

 condition of the trees, the x)rospects, &c. ? 



3. Does it pay to raise root crops largely for stock ? What is th« 

 cost, the value, and which are the best varieties ? 



4. Does it pay to raise hogs for market ? What is the cost of pork, 

 with corn at |l 25 per bushel? 



5. Ought farmers to make a specialty of any one crop 1 



G. Can the farmer afibrd to hire help ? How much can he afford to 

 pay for ordinary help 1 How much can a man earn in cultivating hoed 

 crops, setting aside cost of land ? Comparative earnings of farmers and 

 mechanics. 



7. Is farming in Essex County less profitable than in other localities? 

 Can one afford to hire money to buy land, or to make imi^rovements on 

 land? 



8. Has chemistry been any help to the farmer ? Can he afford to usa 

 manufactured fertilizers ? 



