150 BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 



Williams, of Stockbridge, and Asahel Foote, of Williamstown, 

 each of whom have several thousand trees three and four years 

 growth from the bud and graft, of vigorous growth and good 

 form, embracing all the improved varieties that our country 

 affords. While these gentlemen are making successful efforts 

 to supply the county with fruit trees, the committee regret to 

 state their belief that the farmers of Berkshire, in this branch 

 of horticulture, are far behind most of the counties in this Com- 

 monwealth. How long shall it be said, that our farmers neglect 

 the profit, and forego the luxury, the cheapest and greatest 

 luxury within the reach of all, — good fruit ? 



From the best information that the committee could obtain, it 

 appears that the hay crop falls short of an average supply, one 

 quarter. This deficiency will, however, be mostly replaced by 

 the great area and great growth of corn, as well as from an un- 

 usually increased cultivation of the coarse grains. The great 

 deficiency in«the hay crop seems to be the result, on dry and 

 gravelly land, of the extreme drought of the last year, and, on 

 wet and intervale lands, to the lodgment of ice the past winter 

 and spring. The committee are of opinion, that much of the 

 mowing and pasture land so affected, will not give a good re- 

 turn to the owner, until it is re-seeded, either by ploughing or 

 scarifying. 



The crops of winter rye, and winter wheat, were much in- 

 jured from the same causes that produced the light crop of hay. 

 We however found, in our examination, several pieces of winter 

 rye, of astonishing growth, and great profit. Of winter wheat, 

 there was but one entry ; this piece was not deemed worthy a 

 premium. This crop appears to have given, the past year, the 

 poorest return for labor, of any crop cultivated in the county. 



Of Spring wheat, there were twenty -eight entries. In this 

 branch of the committee's duties, they found it exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to distinguish the best, when almost all the pieces offered 

 were good. The weevil appears to have worked in many places 

 to great extent, but, notwithstanding its ravages, the crop is con- 

 siderably more than an average, in consequence of which, they 

 consider it their duty to apply the appropriation on winter wheat 

 to the spring crop. 



