86 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



produce of his farm, and the manner and cost of cultivation, &c. ; 

 that, in relation to reclaimed peat or bog meadows, there shall 

 be "a full and perfect statement in writing of the bottom, na- 

 ture, production, and value of the soil in its natural state, method 

 of reclaiming, quantity, quality and value of the crop last pro- 

 duced ; " — that, in relation to compost manure, there shall be 

 "a statement in writing, for publication, setting forth the whole 

 process, with a description of the premises, and the number 

 of cattle or swine kept during the year, with suggestions in re- 

 gard to a future course ;" and in relation to fruit trees, there 

 shall be furnished to the committee, "a full statement in 

 writing of the soil, mode of cultivation, and treatment in re- 

 gard to insects." In order to secure the bounty of the Common- 

 wealth, the president and secretary of the society are required, 

 to forward certain information on these subjects to the secretary 

 of State, before the tenth day of January in each year. It is 

 hardly possible for these officers to comply with this requisition 

 of law, Avithout the statements required by our own by-laws, 

 from our own members or the applicants for premiums. The 

 committee are bound in duty to say — although they say it with 

 great reluctance — that these judicious and peremptory require- 

 ments are frequently neglected. Previous to the personal exam- 

 inations of the committee, the present year, only one of the nu- 

 merous applicants for premiums had offered any description of 

 the subject of his application. The committee were of course 

 obliged to take verbal statements, and write for themselves such 

 particulars as they could obtain in reply to inquiries made at the 

 time. Their examinations were consequently unnecessarily 

 protracted, and their labor increased. These things ought not 

 so to be ; and it is respectfully suggested whether future com- 

 mittees should not be excused from the examination of premises, 

 unless the applications for premiums should be accompanied by 

 the statements required. 



The committee are pleased to add, that since their examina- 

 tions, and while this report was in preparation, several gentle- 

 men have furnished the proper statements, which are herewith 

 presented. 



The following premiums were awarded, viz : — 



