17 



are led to think the Dollar has a greater influence over him than 

 the moral condition of his neighbors. 



We find the farmers are making more of sowed corn for fodder 

 than formerly, and Ave think this is as it should be. It comes to 

 maturity at a time when our dairies are in want of some such 

 crop to keep them in paying condition. 



AVe were pleased to find so many pieces of Spring Rye in our 

 travels, and would suggest to the Society the offering of premi- 

 ums for that crop. We would also call the attention of the Soci- 

 ety to Vegetable Gardens, and would suggest the offering of pre- 

 miums under two divisions, viz., Kitchen and Market Gardens. 



For examination in September, we had 280 entries, scattered 

 as before, and really were not sorry when the task was completed 

 --some 70 entries of Corn, over 70 of Potatoes, 30 of Turnips, 

 and many others. 



The corn crop has shown a large growth of stalk, but the ear 

 has not been as perfect as is usually found in our county. It has 

 not ripened fully, or filled oat, in most instances; but we have 

 found some honorable exceptions, even this year. 



Of the Potatoe crop, we find a large surface planted, and per- 

 haps full an average yield. Our extremes in weight were from 41 to 

 213 lbs. to the square rod, yielding, as you will see, in the lowest 

 amount 106, and in the highest 560 bushels to the acre. We 

 have found the earliest varieties much heavier upon the rod than 

 the late, and of excellent quality. Upon the whole, we think 

 Berkshire county still holds her rank as one of the best in the 

 State for her Agricultural products. 



Your Committee find themselves somewhat straitened in award- 

 ing premiums in all cases where they are deserved, as our Exec- 

 utive Committee have seen fit to cut off the premiums on Summer 

 crops from $260 to $115, which, in our opinion, comes very far 

 from meeting the wishes of the members generally, and of the in- 

 tentions of the founders of the old Berkshire Agricultural 

 Society. 



We have, in our awards, carried out the instructions and in- 

 tentions of the Society, according to our best judgment. But we 

 cannot close this report without saying that in all cases the best 



