8 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is -not intended to offer premiums for crops raided on small parcels of land, by unusual ma- 

 nitring and cultivation. 



Premiums are also offered for best acre of com for fodder; best acre of hops; best half-acre of 

 flax, ditto oi tobacco; best acre of cabbage, of broom-corn, ofclover-.seed, and timothy-seed. And 

 by what follows, it may be infeiTcd that suspicions have been entertained that premiums have 

 been obtained by trickery and unfair management. Those, in fact, who have attended such ex- 

 hibitions with an observant eye, must have perceived that there is a little too much management, 

 or attempts at it, in the appointment of the judges on the ground, when those originally nomin- 

 ated fail to attend, and a little too much of personal importunity when they are on duty. It is to 

 be regretted that in too many cases, men of supposed influence and popularity are appointed, for 

 the sake of paying them the compliment, without ascertaining whether they will really nerve 

 or not ; and when the day of exhibition arrives, the judges are nearly all to be appointed over 

 again, and by chance, oftentimes, at the suggestion and by the indirect management of the most 

 eager and active competitors ; and the natural consequence is, that the result gives dissatisfaction 

 and disgust — doing more harm than good. 



These shows are too frequent, and too much ia attempted to be done with inadequate means and 

 in too short a time. 



The cultivation and display of fruits and flowers, for example, should be encouraged by the in- 

 stitution of separate societies — horticultural societies for that special object, as at Boston. It 

 should constitute an enterprise to itself, and is worthy of the separate and earnest devotion of men 

 of taste and liberality. But we must return to the subject immediately in hand. Proceeding 

 with the list of premiums, the tru.stees say : 



Those who present claims to premiums for farm crops must state, in writinsr, the following particulars t— 

 The condition of the soil at the commencement of cultivation for the crop ; the previous crop and cultiva- 

 tion, and quantity of manure used upon it : the quantity and kind of manure the present season : the quan- 

 tity and sort of seed u.sed ; the time and manner of sowing, cleaning and harvesting the crop : the amount 

 of the crop, determined by actual weight or measurement ; and the expense of cultivation. The land shall 

 be measured by some surveyor, who shall swenr to the coneclness of his survey, and that it was made with 

 a chain and compass ; and the claimant of the premium, with two other persons who assisted in measuring; 

 shall certify under oath as to the quantity produced from the piece of land mentioned in the certificate of 

 the surveyor ; and a sample of snain shall be presented at the annual meeting, with the oath of the applicant 

 that the same is a fair sample of the whole crop. 



The statements required from those who compete for the premiums on farms and field crops must be sent 

 to J. B. NoTT, Recording Secretary, Albany, previous to the 1st of December, 1846: and the premiums will 

 be awarded at the annual meetinc; of the Society on the third Wednesday of Januaiy. 



N. B.— Plate will be substituted for money, on the application of the persons receiving the premium. 



PREMIUMS FOR 1847— 1848— 1P49. 

 Whereas, The Asnicultural Society of the State of New-York has not an experimental farm ; and where- 

 as, to some extent, satisfactory experiments can be made by intelligent farmers on their own farms : ihere- 



Rosolved. That the undermentioned list of premiums be offered to induce public spirited individuals to 

 lend their valuable aid in extending the boundaries of accurate rural knowledge. 



Three premiums will be awarded of $30, $20, and $10. in January, 1848. For the best experiment upon 

 a herd of not less than 8 cows, to determine the relative advantages of soiling, or depasturing milch cows. 

 The experiment to be conducted as follows : 



1. The exi)eriment must commence on the first day of May, and be continued until the first day of No- 

 vember. 



2. The rows to he divided in two lots of 4 each. One lot to be soiled, the other depastured. Before com- 

 mencing the experiment, each lot must be wcished, and the record of the weight returned to the commit- 

 tee. It is necessary that the two lots shall be as near alike in weight and milking properties as possible. 



3. The milk of each lot to be weighed separate daily. 



4. The manure made from those soiled to be ascertained in cords. 



5. An account to be kept of the expense of soilina ; also, a detailed statetnent of the entire management 

 together with the measurement of the land occupied in soiling ; and each to be returned to the committee. 



6. A description and measurement of the land occupied for jjasture also to be made. 



7. Each lot to be weighed at the conclusion of the experiment. 



For the best experiment, to he continued through three crops, to ascertain in bushels of grain, and weicht 

 of stalks or straw, the actuiU value of manure to a farmer. The experimenu to be conducted as follows, 

 viz : 



1. Three contiguous acres of ground shall be selected. 



2. One acre of which shall be manured with not more than ten cords of common barnyard manure tha 

 first year, and plowed under. The second acre to be manured with fermented or composted manure, to be 

 applied in any manner the experimenter chooses ; but a full account of the mode is to be made, and the 

 manner of application. Also, an accurate account of the cost of the malerinl aiul it.'i auplicntion. 



3. The three acres are to be planted with com the first year ; the second to be sowed with barley or ORte; 

 the third crop to be winter grain. An accurate account of the yield of each crop to be kept. 



4. A full account of the whole management, and all the detaUs respecting the culture and the circom- 

 Btances affecting the crop. . ■ o o • _ 



.5. 'J'he several kinds of soil to be particulariy described, and specimens transmitted to the ^tate ."iocicty 

 for analysis before commencing the experiment— and also at the conclusion of the experimeut— discriminat- 

 ing carefully between each acre. ... 



For the best $40] Second best $^0 | Third best fM 



N. B.— The specimens of soil to be selected for analysis must be taken from the surruce in ditferent part* 

 of the acre. Wheni iho acre ia groen sward, the sample must bo taken just at ilie terminalion of tho roou 

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