HOUS ATONIC SOCIETY. 271 



some of the best in quantity of seed, but being grown upon, 

 what the committee denominated new land, they were obliged 

 to withhold a premium. The oats, of which thirty-one crops 

 were entered, have not been equal in productiveness to that of 

 most years ; still the crops viewed were large and above the 

 usual average. Six crops of carrots were viewed, of which 

 none, in the opinion of the committee, would yield less than 

 five hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, and the best not less 

 than eight hundred bushels. A crop so valuable should be 

 more extensively cultivated ; it requires little more care than 

 potatoes, and is of more value as food for horses and cattle. 

 Three crops of barley were viewed, all well deserving the first 

 premium. 



Five gardens only were submitted to our inspection, although 

 in our ride we saw many that should have been. More atten- 

 tion should be paid to gardening. All of us may not only have 

 good but beautiful gardens. In an economical view, it is the 

 most valuable portion of the farm ; a large supply of the food 

 of a family, can be easily taken from a single half acre, well 

 tilled as a garden. We also think the cultivation of flowers and 

 fruits should be encouraged. 



Forty-four crops of corn were examined, all of them very 

 good, many of them large, but none equal to the reports of for- 

 mer committees. The largest quantity we found upon any rod, 

 (being a fair average of the field) except Mr. Sexton's, was one 

 bushel and seven quarts, making only ninety-seven bushels of 

 shelled corn to the acre, and that crop, Mr. Galpin's, of Stock- 

 bridge, had the advantage of a dressing of guano. Mr. Sex- 

 ton's corn will produce, in our judgment, 122 bushels shelled 

 corn to the acre. The growth of stalk has been very heavy, 

 giving promise of a great yield, but in consequence of the wet 

 weather at the time of setting for ears, or some other cause, the 

 crop was generally light. Taking into view the state of farming 

 in the county, we have abundant reason for thankfulness that 

 our granaries are all filled ; we have food enough for man and 

 beast, and a large surplus for the comforts and luxuries of life. 



