10 Report of Committees. 



Seedling, St. Patrick, Mammoth Pearl, Beauty of Hebron, and Roses, 

 both early and late, being the leading varieties shown. We were 

 quite pleased with one variety, the Late Beauty of Hebron, raised by 

 Elizur Smith of Lee. With potatoes, as with corn> too close plant- 

 ing is not an advantage. It may give good weights, but the size 

 averages small. Thirty-six hills to the rod, sowed both ways, has 

 shown the best results on the thirty pieces viewed. We found them 

 as close as fifty-eight hills to the rod. 



We were called to see, comparatively, few root crops, but are con- 

 vinced that the root crop is a good one for the farmer to raise. We 

 saw some excellent pieces of carrots and turnips. Mangel Wurtzels 

 had been injured by the drought, and onions, also. There was but 

 one entry of Sugar Beets. They were an excellent crop, and by the 

 judicious use of salt they had been kept from blight, a disease which 

 the beet is heir to in times of drought. 



In viewing farms we were pleased to find that farmers, both rich 

 and poor, are not all dead yet. We were much gratified to see how 

 much can be done, and is being done, by utilizing all the available 

 recourses of the farm. 



We find that commercial fertilizers are used to some extent and 

 many times with good results, but are somewhat expensive. In our 

 opinion, careful saving and judicious application of everything that 

 can increase the fertility of the farm, combined with thorough culti- 

 vation, should engage the attention of the farmers, and will, as a rule, 

 insure good crops and a financial success. 



In walking over the different farms, we were called upon to no- 

 tice improvements made and being made, such as sinking and clear- 

 ing off rocks ; laying them into walls ; draining low places ; drawing 

 gravel and filling muddy places ; repairing and re-arranging barns ; 

 re-arranging the ill-arranged house ; keeping the roadside clear and 

 clean ; setting out shade trees ; plowing and reclaiming old pastures ; 

 letting not a bush or weed grow by the division fences. All these 

 add to the attractiveness of the farm and home as well as to its value. 



From what we have observed we are fully convinced that the 

 question, "Does Farming Pay 1 " may be answered decidedly in the 

 afiirmative, and that the best farming pays the farmer the best. 



The Committee on Fall Crops award as follows : 



Best five acres Corn, Wellington Clapp, Great Barrington, $ 8 



2d do., M. W. Butler. Lenox, 7 



3d do., J. A. Kline, Egremont, 6 



4th do., Isaac H. Rice. Great Barrington, 5 



5th do., Orrin Benedict, Pittsfield, 4 



6th do., H. L. Smith, Lee, 3 



7th do., P. M. Shaylor, Lee, 2 



Best three acres Corn, John C. Smith, Sheffield, 8 



2d do.. N. J. Smith, Stockbridge, 7 



3d do., F. K. Hinckley, Lee, 6 



4th do., H. C. Byington, Stockbridge, 5 



5th do., Stephen Baldwin, Egremont, 4 



Gth do., George H. Wheeler, Monterey, 3 



7th do., W. H. Day, Great Barrington, 2 



