170 PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 



more effectual means of raising the reputation of them, than offers 

 of reward for the greatest products. This has been very clearly- 

 proved in the offers we have made for the greatest crops of Indian 

 corn. This article, it was extensively supposed years ago, was 

 too expensive to justify an extended cultivation. Several towns 

 in the county, where it had formerly been raised to some extent 

 for the market, had so far neglected it, as to become purchasers 

 of nearly or quite half the quantity used. The prevalent opin- 

 ion, in the county, twenty years ago, was, that Indian corn 

 could not be raised for less than one dollar per bushel. Now, 

 the estimates of expense seldom exceed fifty cents, and often 

 fall considerably below that sum. The cultivation of some other 

 crops has been improved in nearly the same proportion. 



In offers for the largest crops, we encourage experiments in 

 different methods of ploughing, with respect to season and depth, 

 of composting and applying manure, of planting and the subse- 

 quent cultivation of the plants. The result is a perceptible 

 yearly improvement, not only in the fields of competitors, but 

 generally through the county. 



We can give another answer, which ought to silence objec- 

 tions against holding out encouragement for the greatest crops. 

 In the observations made in a period of thirty years, no instance 

 has fallen under our notice, where personal interest has not been 

 advanced in careful preparation for great crops. It has be- 

 come a proverbial saying, among competitors, if the society give 

 no premium, the field will. 



Nathan Whitman, of East Bridge water, entered a claim for 

 the best crop of Spring wheat. He obtained something more than 

 the required quantity, and is entitled to the first premium, $15. 

 Mr. W. supposes he should have had several bushels more of 

 wheat, had it not been so badly lodged by a gust of wind in 

 July. The small grains are always exposed to injury from 

 strong winds, and the danger is often greatly increased by the 

 imprudence of the cultivators. Mr. W. applied manure to his 

 land near the time of sowing, the tendency of which was to pro- 

 duce too rapid early growth, and too much weakness of fibre, 

 to regain the natural position after any disorder. Had the value 

 of the manure applied the last spring, or even the one half of 



