10 



tion of about two rods in width through the middle of the piece, the 

 result could uot fail to attract the attention of the most casual ob- 

 server, and from our former convictions of the value of this fertiliz- 

 er for the rye crop, and from inquiry and observation during our 

 examinations we unhesitatingly advise the farmers of southern 

 Berkshire to make use of this fertilizer on rye. 



The oat crop, with its one hundred and eighteen entries, caused 

 your committee more anxiety than all the other crops combined, 

 lest we might fail to do justice by each competitor. The crop was 

 simply enormous, and if some of the competitors should feel that 

 they had not been fairly dealt with we should not be surprised. 

 We started out upon our duties with the firm resolve not to be in- 

 fluenced in making our awards by any outside circumstances, and 

 we trust if by any reason we have erred in doing justice to all it will 

 be considered an error of the head rather than the heart. 



There were seven entries of barley, nearly all deserving a pre- 

 mium, but we were restricted to three. We believe barley might 

 be more generally raised by the farmers with paying results. 



The grass crop in the aggregate^ the lightest for many years, 

 seemed to cause the farmers of southern Berkshire some anxiety 

 how they should be able to winter their stock the coming winter, 

 but it is the opinion of your committee that by the timely fore- 

 thought of most of them they have bridged over this difficulty with 

 sowed corn and the different grasses so that with economy no ap- 

 prehension may be felt in that direction. In our examination of 

 the grass crop we often heard the remark made that " nry oats fell 

 down and killed my grass," or " the drought of last year killed my 

 grass seed. 1 ' These remarks and our own observations convinced 

 us that a great deal of loss is incurred by the farmer seeding on 

 oats, and from several instances coining under our examination we 

 are inclined to believe a better way to seed is after the oats are 

 harvested to plow the ground and seed without any crop and to 

 make the result doubly sure a moderate application of some fertil- 

 izer should be used. As grass is the main crop for the farmer we 

 are of the opinion that more might be profitably done to produce 

 a better crop than is generally being done by the majority of far- 

 mers. Many seem to be satisfied by running over a large number 

 of acres, gathering a very meagre crop. It is worth while to take 

 more pains with the meadow lands, and not be satisfied with the 

 half ton per acre. We would say mow less ground and fertilize 

 what you mow better. To this end we say relax no effort in utiliz- 

 ing every available thing that will contribute to enlarge the manure 

 and compost heap, and top dress the meadows after haying and our 

 word for it the result will be highly satisfactory. We are satisfied 

 that many pieces of meadow land that produce a small crop, can be 

 plowed after the crop has been removed, harrowed and made 

 smooth, treated with an application of Bradley's fertilizer and 

 seeded with grass seed and be made to produce a good crop the 

 next season. A premium on three acres treated in this way by one 



