Reports of Committees. 29 



apples is especially manifest in the cider made from them. By skillful cultivation 

 we are conlident eastern fruit can be made to rival even in size the productions of 

 California, and if to this be added superiority in flavor, there is no necessity for New 

 England farmers to retire from competition with the west in orchard products. Our 

 soil, by long cultivation, has become partially exhausted of its inorganic elements, 

 but these can be restored by drainage so that the roots of our trees can penetrate 

 deeper without encountering a cold, wet, hai'd-pan, and by liberal top dressings of 

 lime, plaster, bone dust, and especially wood ashes. The latter contain all the in- 

 organic elements which vegetation demands, and are therefore at the present prices, 

 the most economical and the most reliable of all the commercial fertilizers. The 

 west has the advantage in having fewer insects injurious to fruits, but these are 

 marching westward with the progress of empire, and we have the advantage of long 

 acquaintance with our insect enemies and the means of counteracting their baleful 

 effects. 



We have thus briefly given some reasons for increased attention to apple culture 

 in New England , and we hope our farmers will not neglect this profitable branch of 

 agriculture. We may not be able to compete in the New York markets with our 

 western friends, but we can at least supply the wants of our own families and the 

 home demand. Another year we hope to have the pleasure of inspecting more or- 

 chards and collections of fruit trees, entered for the liberal premiums offered by the 

 Berkshire Agricultural Society. 



After careful examination and comparison, we award the premiums in our de- 

 partment as follows : 



Farms. 



< )rren Benedict, Pittsfield, $20 



F. K. Hinckley, Lee, 15 



J. B. Farnum, Cheshire, 1 ' > 



Richard Goodman, Lenox, 5 



Apple Orchards. 



Quincey A. Roys, New Ashford, $ 9 



< )rren Curtis, Sheffield, ° 



C. A. Babbitt, South Adams, 4 



J. J. Peirson, Richmond, « 



COLLECTION OF FRUIT TREES. 



Charles Spear, Sheffield, $0 



W m. 0. Curtis, Lenox, 5 



Mrs. George N. Briggs, Pittsfield, 4 



Henry Hathaway, South Adams, 3 



Dairies. 



A. J. Bucklin, South Adams, $10 



S. L. Lincoln, South Adams, 8 



Alanson Jones, South Adams, 7 



Scott Jenks, South Adams, 6 



Ira Richmond South Adams, 4 



Reclaimed Land. 



Walter Richards, Lenox, $0 



H'nry Noble, Pittsfield, 4 



Alexander Hyde, ~1 



H. M. Peirson, > Committee. 



Daniel T. Farnum, ) 



