BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 265 



Another material improvement, which came under the notice 

 of the committee, and to which they aUude with pleasure and 

 approbation, is the superior construction of barns, by which not 

 only is the comfort of domestic animals much increased, but 

 greater conveniences for their care, and for the accumulation of 

 manure, are attained. 



The committee would impress upon the minds of all their 

 agricultural brethren, the importance of saving every ingredient 

 that can be made to enter into the composition of that sub- 

 stance which renovates exhausted lands, and returns to the earth 

 those particles which have been drawn from it by successive 

 crops, thereby enabling Nature to invest herself in her beauti- 

 ful attire, and to present to her admirers her annual tribute of 

 fruits and flowers. The greatest pleasure may be taken by the 

 philosopher and naturalist, — and the farmer should be both, — 

 in contemplating that benign process by which ingredients the 

 most offensive to the human senses, are converted into articles 

 that gratify the most delicate taste, and pamper the most luxu- 

 rious appetite. 



The number of entries demanding the attention of the com- 

 mittee, was one hundred and thirty-one. The crops were gen- 

 erally good, with the exception of potatoes, which are an entire 

 failure. We award as follows : — 



WINTER WHEAT. 



Orrin Curtis, Sheffield, _ - - - 



Nathaniel Cook, Richmond, _ - - 



SPRING WHEAT. 



Caleb Brown, Williamstown, . _ - 



Eleazer Williams, Richmond - . - 



John Partridge, Pittsfield, - - - - 



B. F. Mills, Williamstown, - - - - 



John E. Merrill, Pittsfield, - - - - 



WINTER RYE. 



Clement Harrison, Adams, - - - - 



Chester Lamphier, Lee, . - - - 



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