FARMS. 37 



So far wc found plain sailing, and if that course Lad brought 

 us into harbor we should have been glad ; but there were com- 

 petitors from Hadley, all of "whom exhibited good farming, and 

 so equally good that it was difficult to discriminate in favor of 

 cither against the others. In the farm management of Mr. 

 Huntington and in that of Wra. F. Dickinson we saw much to 

 commend. These men have exhibited the right spirit, and, so 

 far as we can judge, the right practice, with regard to the re- 

 claiming of waste lands. Our region of country would soon 

 be more beautiful and more productive, and, though now healthy, 

 would be still more conducive to health and long life, if all own- 

 ers of lands would farm them as well. Both in the reclaiming 

 of swamp land and in the cropping of their lands generally they 

 Save done well. Their practice proves farming to be a paying 

 business — more profitable than any other business equally safe. 

 Between them as compared with each other, and when both 

 were brought into competition with Mr. R. W. Smith, the ques- 

 tion was one which it seemed almost impossible to decide. 

 Your committee, however, believed that Mr. Smith's farm man- 

 agement was quite as good as theirs, and his statement was 

 somewhat full, conforming more nearly than theirs with the 

 conditions on which these premiums were offered ; which two 

 considerations, taken together, induced them to award the sec- 

 ond premium to Royal W. Smith, of Hadley, unless Mr. Hunt- 

 ington, whose farming we much approve, but whose statement 

 was very deficient, will consent to make out a new and more 

 full statement, one that shall be satisfactory to the executive 

 committee ; in which case we award the second premium to him. 

 We do not understand that the rules of the society require 

 long statements. It is, however, to be supposed that the man 

 who takes your premiums for good farm management is a good 

 farmer ; that his example is worth considering, at least, if not 

 worthy in all respects of imitation ; and if so, then it is incum- 

 bent on the competitor to make such a statement as would 

 enable other farmers to comprehend his proceedings, and to 

 imitate them if they choose. We specially commend that part 

 of Mr. R. W. Smith's statement which relates to the compost- 

 ing of manure for his corn. 



J. A. Nash, Chairman, 



Amherst, 1854. 



