ON' FARMS, 89 



to afford noiunshment to the plant in its infancy ; after it lias form- 

 ed roots it does much better Avithout the parent set. In digging po- 

 tatoes I have frequently observed that where we found the set not 

 decayed, the yield was far inferior. I think it extracted nourish- 

 ment from the plant rather than furnished any to it. I hope these 

 experiments may prove of some use to the farmers of Essex. 



I have the pleasure of subscribing myself, 



Your sincere friend, 



To Allen AV. Dodge, Et^Q, 



E. HERSEY DERBY. 



ON FARMS. 



The Committee on the management of Farms make the following 

 Report : 



The Trustees of the Society have often expressed the opinion that 

 the examination of a number of the best managed farms in different 

 parts of the county, by their committees appointed from year to 

 year for that purpose, having a full and minute account of the en- 

 tire cultivation and management to accompany their report, would 

 furnish to the members of the Society, through their annual pam- 

 phlet, a very valuable source of information. 



To accomplish this desirable object, liberal sums have been offered 

 in premiums, and the regulations accompanying the offers varied from 

 time to time, to meet the wants and induce a larger number of com- 

 petitors into the field. Notwithstanding which, few entries have ever 

 been made, and many of the years not a solitary one, on which the 

 committee could form a practical report. The present year, a new 

 and apparently, a more liberal mode accompanied the offer. 



The sum of $100 was placed at the disposal of the committee, to 

 be awarded in sums not exceeding $25 each, provided a sufficient 

 number of meritorious claims should be made. And while the com- 

 mittee would express their high gratification in the opportunity fur- 

 nished them of examining, in the northern part of the county, a 

 number of well managed farms, it must be accompanied with their 

 regret that they were not favored with the priviledge of examining 

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