18 Report of Committees. 



toes how much seed was planted before being informed by the owner. 

 The indications of too much seed were an increase in the number of 

 potatoes and a marked decrease in the size, so that the marketable 

 potatoes became less as the seed exceeded two eyes in one place or 

 hill. For the average of land it was found advisable to plant the 

 seed pretty near the surface of the ground, and to hill enough to 

 keep the tubers from growing out of the hill and becoming sun- 

 burnt. 



Almost every premium that we give on potatoes is given on drill 

 planted potatoes, for they gave the best weight and quality. The 

 time when we were sent out to examine farms was when they made 

 their poorest appearance. The grass had been cut and the rowen, 

 corn, and other fall crops suffered under the dry cold weather, while 

 the bountiful summer crops had all been harvested. Two examina- 

 tions of farms should be required, — one in July and the other when 

 fall crops are examined, then the full productiveness of the farms 

 and their management can be ascertained more accurately and with 

 more justice to the owners. We would recommend that the pre- 

 miums on farms of both classes be increased from three to five pre- 

 miums in the 40 acre class, and from three to six in the 100 acre 

 class. 



There are many fine farms deserving premiums in the county, but 

 as it now stands only six of them can take premiums. There is a 

 great rivalry among farmers in this matter and it would be much 

 more stimulating to agriculture to give fully as many as eleven pre- 

 miums. 



Several farms that we examined ought to have premiums, but there 

 were not at our disposal enough premiums for this. 



Sugar Beets, Carrots, Onions, Turnips and Mangel Wurzels, 

 showed the effects of the dry weather that came late in the summer. 

 The best crops were on moist land. Turnips did better in upland 

 than any of the other roots. Our award of premiums is as follows : 



Best five acres Corn, George S. Day, Great Barrington, $8 



2d do., James Roraback, Sheffield, 7 



3d do., John D. Blake, Lee, 6 



4th do., T. S. Baldwin, Egrement, 5 



5th do., F. W. Bechtei Jr., Stockbridge, 4 



6th do. . H. H. Hall, Great Barringtou, 3 



7th do. , H. A. Tobey, Great Barrington, 2 



Best three acres Corn, Frederick Abbey. Great Barrington, 8 



2d do., John D. Noxon, Great Barrington, 7 



3d do., Z. Candee, Sheffield, 6 



4th do., George H. Wheeler, Monterey, 5 



5th do., J L. Millard, Egremont. 4 



6th do., N. J. Smith, Stockbridge, 3 



7th do., Jared Lewis, Great Barrington, 2 



Best one acre Corn, Jared Lewis, Great Barrington, 7 



2d do.. H. Z. Candee, Sheffield, 6 



3d do., H. H. Garfield, Lee, 5 



4th do., F. N. Kellogg, Sheffield, 4 



5th do., William I. Walker, Great Barrington 3 



6th do., H. H. Garfield, Lee, 2 



7th do., H. L. Smith, Lee, 1 



