HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 369 



Twenty pieces of potatoes were examined, the best in qual- 

 ity and quantity since the blight made its appearance in 1843. 

 In planting this crop, one error is committed. The greatest 

 yield not being found where there was the most hills to the 

 rod. Twenty-seven to thirty-six hills to the rod is sufticient 

 for a profitable yield. Mr. Lyman Huggins, of Sheffield, had 

 31 hills to the rod; yield, 92 quarts. J. R. Lawton, Jr., of 

 Great Barrington, 33 hills, yield, 83 quarts. Mr. Lawton being 

 entitled to a premium on another crop, could not receive one 

 on potatoes. Mr. Elias Wright, of Monterey, 27 hills, yield, 

 81 quarts. Mr. Jay Shears, of Sandisfield, 25 hills, yield, 73 

 quarts. Fourteen pieces of buckwheat were examined, all 

 good, much better than in some former years. This crop, gen- 

 erally sown as a chance crop, and being very uncertain, 

 drought or early frost blasting it very often, the committee do 

 not deem it necessary to offer very great inducements for en- 

 couraging its growth. The crops of spring wheat and barley 

 were very fair. Several pieces of carrots were examined, some 

 of them promising an abundant yield. The committee ad- 

 judged that the piece of Jared Man sir, of Monterey, would 

 yield at the time of digging for winter 1,800 bushels to the 

 acre. The committee would recommend to the farmers of the 

 eastern towns, the growing of more roots. Perhaps it may be 

 said that this season has been propitious for the soil of those 

 localities, while in a wet season, the land being saturated with 

 water, becomes heavy, thus rendering it unfit for the growth 

 of roots. Underdrains would remedy this by carrying off the 

 surface water. Ten vegetable gardens were examined ; one in 

 Sheffield, three in Egremont, three in Great Barrington, and 

 two in Monterey. The committee, regretting, first, that they 

 had not one at home as good, and secondly, that they had not a 

 premium to give to each competitor, there being but ^6 offered. 

 Considering how large an amount of the subsistence of the 

 family is, and may be derived from the garden, the small in- 

 vestment of cash capital, the largest share consisting in labor, 

 thereby bringing it within the reach of all to compete that feel 

 disposed, the committee do not hesitate to recommend an in- 

 crease in the number and value of the premiums on vegetable 

 gardens. \Vhy should not the same encouragement be offered 

 for cultivating the garden, as for an acre of oats or rye, corn or 

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