-Report of Committees* 15 



Committee were sho «m-« piece of Hulless Oats, grown by E. L. Boardman of 

 Sheffield, which war e very fine, and suggest to the farmers a trial of them. 



Best acre Barley, B H STillmer, Lee, $5 



2d do., James , Ballard, Lee, 4 



3d do., J. Vp fla^Deusen, Great Barrington, 2 



For best three ac gt& Cultivated Grass, F. F. Cooper. Sheffield, 7 



2d do., J. B. ^Walker, New Marlboro, 6 



3d do., T. S »., Baldwin, Egremont, 5 



4th do., M. X Wheeler, Great Barrington, 4 



5th do., D. Garriban. New Marlboro, 3 



6th do., H M m. Baldwin, West Stockbridge, 2 



Best five acres Cultivated Grass, H. L. Rowe, Egremont. 7 



2d do., A „w. Merrill, Sandisfield, 5 



3d do., J Patrick Bossidy, Lee, 3 

 Committed fl ,_Grove Gaylord, E. L. Heath. 



GAKDENS. 



Whole num ber of entries 15. Professional Vegetables, 4 ; Competitor's Vege- 

 table, 13 . Professional Flower, 2 ; Competitor's Flower, 6. 



The unprecedented number of the various classes of gardens 

 comj ,eting for premium, evidences the fact that interest in gar- 

 den^ m g among amateurs, is increasing, and the varied benefits de 

 riv ed are gaining recognition. The need of a good kitchen garden 

 1S becoming more generally felt each year, and the amount of com- 

 f ort and good food to be obtained from a little labor expended, 

 is being appreciated, not only by the farmers of Southern Berkshire 

 but by those residing in our villages. 



Your committee take pleasure in reporting to you the condition 

 of the gardens visited, scarcely one being entered but reflected 

 credit upon the competitor and deserved commendation They 

 made the first trip of viewing the last of June, and found the gar- 

 dens well advanced in spite of the late spring. They w r ere then in 

 their beauty and w T ere very attractive. The beds and hills were 

 generally very neat and free from weeds ; the bright green of the 

 growing plants formed a beautiful contrast with the rich dark earth 

 ;and presented a charming picture. 



The second inspection of the gardens was made during the last 

 week of August, after a protracted drouth, though most were 

 not seriously injured thereby. The gardens were then in the 

 excellence of fruitage, the beautiful had yielded to the useful, and 

 most of the gardens manifested a continuance of care and interest on 

 the part of their proprietors. The vegetable gardens contained 

 large varieties, but the ideas of the planters seemed to be not so 

 much the number as the excellence of the varieties cultivated and a 

 desire to find these by actual experiment, watching development 

 with close, intelligent attention, thus showing an advancement of ideas 

 greatly to be desired in this as in every other branch of industry. 



The most successful gardens were on soil which was rich and 

 kept mellow by constant cultivation. 



Utilization of land was another commendable point. Nothing 

 was left waste ; the plants were not crowded, thus preventing 

 growth, but no vacant places were left. The ground which yielded 



