u 



GAKDENS. 



Entries 23. Vegetable Gardens, by professional gardeners, 4 ; Vegetable 

 Gardens, by non professionals, 10 ; Flower Gardens, by professional gardener, 

 2 ; Flower Gardens, by non professionals, 7. 



Best Vegetable Garden, by professional gardener, William O. Curtiss, Lenox, $5 



3d do., John Hughes, Great Barrington, 4 



3d do., Jacob Raiffstanger, Stockbridge, 3 



Best Vegetable Garden, by non professional, Horace Z. Candee, SheflSeld, 5 



2d do., Henry Dresser, Great Barrington. 4 



3d do., Ralph Little, SheflBeld, 3 



4th do.. Dr. Charles E. Heath, Lee S 



•oth do., Hopkins T. Cande, Sheffield, 1 



Best Flower Garden, by professional, J. Milton Mackie, Great Barrington, 4 



2d do., Carl E. Beer, Great Barrington, 3 



Best lady's Flower Garden, cared for by competitor, Mrs. D.Andrews, Sheffield, 5 



2d do., Mrs. Orren Curtis, Sheffield, 4 



3d do., Mrs. Hopkins T. Cande, Sheffield, 3 



4th do., Mrs. William D. Curtis, Lenox. 3 



5th Mrs. C. E. Dewey, Lenox, 1 



LESTER T. OSBORNE, ) 



MISS LUCY BALDWIN, - Committee, 



MRS. HENRY. W. BURGETT. ) 



FALL CROPS. 



The committee of the Housatonic Agricultural Society submit the following 

 report. The entry book closed August 16th, but we delayed our examination a 

 few days as corn and buckwheat were late. This has been a bounteous year, we 

 found barns and granaries full, while the farmers are feeling good over the better 

 prospects for the future. The examination has given us opportunity for a few 

 suggestions, which we will make, first on corn. This crop we found more than an 

 average of former years. We advise farmers to plant earlier, and not too close, 

 as you will have more weight with the rows three feet apart each way than when 

 nearer. In our examination we found the hills from fifteen inches to four and a 

 half feet apart, and the closest planted the Ughtest. without exception. 



Potatoes. Do not mark rows both ways, if you intend to compete for a pre- 

 mium, as the potatoes grow as well from eighteen inches to two feet apart in the 

 row. Most of the entries were the Earlj' Rose, and we recommend a change of 

 seed about once in four years. The crop is hght. owing to dry weather, and neg- 

 lect of the bugs. We do not think manure in the hill beneficial, the tubers not be- 

 ing as smooth as with the manure ploughed under, and more ashes should be used. 



Sowed Corn. We were glad to find so much of the best of fodder grown, 

 finding on one farm eight acres. In our opinion the Evergreen is the best varie- 

 ty, and should be planted in drills twelve or fifteen inches apart. 



Roots. Since farmers have turned their attention to making milk, the root 

 crop is a paying one, as the expense of raising an acre is trifling. Swedish and 

 Shamrock Turnips and Beets were the best we ever saw. and we regret there was 

 not more to be given on them. 



Buckwheat. This has a great growth of straw not well fiUed on account of 

 muggy weather. Many pieces were badly lodged. 



Fabms. One of the best premiums ever offered by the society is upon Farms, 

 as you will see by riding through the county. The effect of it is such improve- 

 ments as clean road-sides and fences, neatness about the houses and out-buildings, 

 as these things must be done by those competing for the premium, and these 

 should be increased. We found it difficult to make our awards, as so many were 

 worthy upon which we were unable to bestow, and if we have erred, we beg that 

 it may be overlooked. We return our thanks to aU for the kind hospitality shown 

 us in every household. 



Entbies 240. Five acres of Com, 27 ; three acres of Com, 25 ; one acre of 

 Com, 39 : Sowed Corn, 15 ; Sweet Com, 8 ; Buckwheat, 26 ; Potatoes, 29 ; Beans, 

 6 ; Sngar Beets, 13 ; Mangel Wnrt^el, 13 ; Carrots, 8 ; Swedish, French or Eos- 



