FALL CROPS. 



Whole number of entries, 256. Four acres of Corn. 29 ; one acre of Corn, 43 ; Sweet Corn, 4 ; 

 Sowed f'orn, 25 ; Buckwheat, 28 ; Potatoes. 23 ; Beans, 19 ; Sugar Beets. 10; Mangel Wurtzel, 

 13 ; Carrots, 11 ; Swedish, French or Russian Turnips, 23 ; English Turnips, 4 ; Cabbages, 9 ; 

 Farms, 15. 



The agricultural committee of the Housatonic society respectfully submit to 

 the intelligent members of this, our prosperous institution, (whose servants we 

 are,) our report upon fall crops, as we found them. 



We entered up(m our pleasant duties with a full determination of making 

 our awards for the best crops ; and notwithstanding many that were meritori- 

 ous which came under our observation must of a necessity be left unrewarded, 

 yet upon the completi(m of our task and reviewing our labors, we have the 

 consciousness that we endeavored to do our duty faithfully, and the satisfac- 

 tion that in all our deliberations, examinations and conclusions, we were a unit. 

 The yeomanry of Berkshire have abundant reason for gratitude to the Giver of 

 all good for the return of seed-time and harvest, " which shall never cease while 

 the earth remaineth." 



Our attention was called to some experiments being made by Oren Benedict 

 of Pittsfield with commercial manures upon the root crop ; and up to the time 

 of examination the prospect of a good return from the pliosphates, was nearly, 

 if not quite equal with that of barn yard m;inure. Our first examinations were 

 that of sowed corn, which has become nearly an indispensable crop to the farm- 

 er, especially those who keep a dairy ; and from some experience of our own, 

 together with close observation of the crops of others we visited, we are of a 

 decided opinion that a greater amount in value of nutrition can be obtained by 

 planting sweet corn (of a similar variety as "Stowel's Evergreen") in drills ; or, 

 better still in hills, about one foot apart, in rows from 2| to 3 feet, than from 

 southern, western, or any other of the common varieties. Corn is a good crop 

 throughout the county, well ripened and sound, but not so fully tipped as last 

 year, owing to the excessive drouth. 



Sweet Corn is not as universally planted in Middle and Southern Berk- 

 shire as farther north, where it finds a ready market with the Shakers at Han- 

 cock, at remunerative rates. Those who know consider it a quite profitable 

 crop to raise for feeding. 



Buckwheat. — We should judge this grain was being more generally raised 

 than in former years, but this fall has not been deemed propitious (owing to 

 the thermometer's constant upward tendency) for filling. 



Potatoes. — A larger. area than usual was planted the present season, and 

 generally cared for in the most tliorough manner; the tubers were found much 

 smoother than last year, and up to the time of our digging, but few decayed. 

 Bugs have been fought with a will, and the farmer will be rewarded in bushels 

 if not in price. The minimum in pounds to the rod found was 60, the maxi- 

 mum 205. We were sorry to find upon a farm in Sheffield *a /new variety of 

 potato bug, said to eclipse the striped-back in every particular. 



Beans. — The season has been one of perfection.^for the growth and ripen- 

 ing of white beans. S<j nearly alike were a few of the entries we viewed, our 

 awards are made in part from actual count on a given space. 



Sugar Beet. — This vegetable was badly affected by dn^uth, and a blight 

 upon the leaves as early as the first [)art of AngiiHl. Also, Mangel Wurzcl, 

 Swedish, French and English turnips have been very materially shortened by 

 the extreme dry season. We notice with pleasure the increast-d interest in the 

 raising of roots, adding our own light cxperieuce; we tell the^tale to others as 

 it is told to us, "that nothing for the expense incurred will give^a^better re- 

 turn than the producing of these vegetables. '' 



Carrots were foaud to be looking finely, and it was very evident to us 

 that a dry season did uot curtail the growth, comparatively, with other root 



