75 



that the lover of any particular variety can examine those of 

 his choice without going the entire length of the line of coops, 

 and so that your committee can do its duty better and easier. 

 Give no premiums when ])irds are not properly mated in the 

 coops, or when they do not figure a certain numl^er of points, 

 the number to be fixed by the society. 



The above suggestions are derived from the Massachusetts 

 Poultry Association's rules at its exhibitions, and may be 

 worthy of your consideration. 



By adopting the foregoing rules, or better ones, as from time 

 to time they suggest themselves to the society, we see no reason 

 why the poultry exhibition, at the Essex Agricultural Society's 

 annual fairs may not become equal to any in the state or nation. 



Chairman — J. C. Underbill. 



GRAIN CROPS. 



A. P. Noyes, of Middleton, entered a crop of rye. 



Two of the Committee viewed it on the second of July. It 

 was nearly five feet high, remarka'bly even, free from rust, but 

 apparently suffering from tlie unusually early drought. They 

 would recommend awarding to him the diploma and premium 

 of ten dollars. 



It will be seen by the accompanying statement that the yield 

 was thirty-three bushels per acre. The crop last year was 

 corn. He makes no mention of the straw, which has been 

 nearly as high in Boston market the past year as the best of 

 English hay. The raising of grain in this county at the pres- 

 ent time is up-hill work, and few, if any, would grow it, if 

 they could get their land into grass without it. To some 

 extent this can be done. Tlie Early Rose potatoes ripen early 

 enough so that they can be harvested and the land sown with 

 grass seed soon enough for it to get well rooted before winter. 



We get but little information from Mr. Noyes's statement in 

 regard to the cost of growing a crop of rye. When rye is 



