1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 141 



premiums to Samuel Jaques, Somerville, for do., $2 ; E. B. Metcalf, 

 Franklin, for do., $2. Best China Geese, to Samuel Jaques, Somer- 

 ville, $3. Best Hong Kong Geese, to Samuel Jaques, Somerville, 

 ^3. Best Wild Geese, to A. S. Lewis, Framingliam, $3 ; second 

 best, to W. G. Lewis, Framingham, for do., $2 ; Discretionary pre- 

 mium to Samuel Jaques, for do., $2. 



Division 37. — Best Swans, to Eben Wight, Dedham, $3. 



Division 34. — Best Turkeys, to C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain, S3 ; 

 second best, to E. P. Hollis, West Needham, $2. 



The importance of the subject of poultry justifies the length to 

 which the preceding remarks have been extended. The interest in 

 this department of agriculture appears to be fully kept up in Eng- 

 land. At the last show of fat cattle and poultry at Birmingham, 

 first week in December, 1857, no less than fourteen hundred and 

 ninety-eight different coops of poultry were exhibited, numbering not 

 less than four thousand three hundred and ninety-four birds. 

 For the committee, 



Eben Wight, Chairman. 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



The season of 1857 was, in many respects, peculiar, and the 

 character of the season has an essential influence on the agri- 

 cultural products of the year. The rains were unusually 

 abundant and distributed well over the season. The yield of 

 grass was, therefore, much larger than the average of years^ 

 though its quality was, perhaps, inferior. The yield of Indian 

 corn was less than an average, though the growtli of the stalk 

 was large. Indian corn requires a warm and genial sun, and 

 endures a drought rather than a flood. Great apprehensions 

 were felt in the early part of the season, that this crop would 

 be an entire failure, but the result was better than had been 

 anticipated. It was, however, very late on account of the cold, 

 late spring, and some pieces failed to ripen before the frosts. 



Class sixth was devoted to agricultural products, embracing 

 field crops, flour, grain, seeds, vegetables, grasses, bread, &c. 



With regard to field crops samples were to be shown in 

 barrels at the exhibition when practicable, with assurances that 

 they were an average of the crop, with detailed statements of 

 the mode of cultivation, expenses, &c. The grain, seeds, vege- 



