172 PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 



use of the hoe. As far as farmers can cultivate to advantage 

 with the horse, they should certainly adopt this course, as they 

 will be able to till more extensive fields, and do it with less ex- 

 pense, than they possibly could with what is termed hand-labor. 

 We are sorry to have occasion to complain of deficiencies in the 

 statements made. There seems to be no difficulty in writing 

 out a true account of what has been done, and how accom- 

 plished. Yet it is seldom that we have any thing like a full 

 account. In estimating the expense of an operation, it is rare 

 that every item which should have been taken into the account 

 is mentioned. The statements of the corn crops are all of them, 

 this year, deficient on a point specifically required on the list of 

 premiums. None of them inform us how their seed-corn was 

 selected and preserved. One of them states that he had it of a 

 person in a neighboring town, and that it was selected specially 

 for seed ; but whether in the field, at the time of husking, or in 

 the crib, we know not. This is a subject of more importance 

 than competitors, ardent in the pursuit of premiums, may think 

 it. We have a very variable climate, and late corn is fre- 

 quently injured by early frosts. In a careful selection of the 

 first-ripened ears for seed, we secure the maturity of the crop a 

 week or two earlier than in a promiscuous selection of it. Tak- 

 ing all our seed from the most fruitful stalks, we employ one 

 probable and proper means of increasing the crop. 



First premium on corn is awarded to N. Whitman, $8 00 



Second do. do. do. to P. Hathaway, 6 00 



A gratuity do. do. to G. W. Wood, 4 00 



do. do. do. to D. Pratt, 2 00 



Daniel Alden, of Middleborough, is entitled to the first pre- 

 mium for oats, $S 00, having raised 69| bushels on one acre and 

 nine rods. Mr. A. has again been very successful with oats in 

 the use of a less quantity of seed than is usually employed. 

 There were, however, some other circumstances which might 

 have affected his crop favorably. He applied a quantity of salt 

 to his field two years in succession. The influences of this arti- 

 cle on the grain crop are not yet very clearly ascertained. He 

 also applied some wood-ashes, a very good vermifuge and 



