Report of Committees. 13 



and Burbank Seedling. As to the quality we are not able to state, 

 but are of the opinion that the St. Patrick, Burbank Seedling and 

 Mammoth Pearl will prove the best. One four-acre field of St. Pat- 

 rick's brought to mind the days of olden times, showing a yield of 

 three hundred bushels of smooth, large potatoes per acre, planted 

 in hills, thirty to the rod, on sod, with barn-yard manure plowed under 

 in the spring, and three hundi-ed pounds Mapes' Potato Phosphate per 

 acre used in the hill, medium sized seed cut to two eyes, and two 

 pieces for each hill. Successful potato raising, late years, needs bet- 

 ter culture, more experiments and study. 



We find some yery fine pieces of Buckwheat. In most cases the 

 early sown, best filled. Bradley's Phosphate, at the rate of one bar- 

 rel j^er acre, sown broadcast at the time of seeding brings a good crop. 



In examination of the fields of Sowed Corn, conclude that the 

 Stowell's Evergreen variety, planted in hills ten or twelve inches, 

 rowed one way three feet, w^ith five or six stalks per hill gives the 

 best crop, taking ears and stalks into consideration. 



We suggest that more than tw^o premiums be given on the Onion 

 crop. The pieces examined are all worthy of a premium, and we 

 take the liberty of adding discretionary premiums. Ashes and phos- 

 phates are valuable fertilizers for the crop. 



Farmers are learning that for late fall and winter feeding, for 

 milk especially, the root crop a paying one. We find in many cases 

 that the extreme drouth of the fall has a blighting effect on the Tur- 

 nip and Beet, but the pieces of not too early sown Carrots were flour- 

 ishing, giving promise of good yields. The following statements in 

 regard to the cost, cultivation, yield, &c., of Sugar Beets, is here pre- 

 sented for your inspection : 



STATEMENT OF J. H. ROWLEY, OF EGKEMONT. 



The one-half acre on which my crop was grown is a clay loam soil. The 

 crop on it in 1880 was Potatoes, planted on sod. without manure. For the pres- 

 ent crop, six two-horse wagon loads of well rotted barn-yard manure was spread 

 evenly over the surface, and the land ploughed ten inches deep in May. Four 

 loads more of manure was then spread over the surface, and nothing more done 

 to it until the second day of June. The land was then thoroughly harrowed and 

 ridged by turning two furrows together, leaving the rows two feet and eight 

 inches apart, the top of the ridges raked ofF, a trench made with a hand-hoe, and 

 three pounds and one-quarter of Lane's improved seed dropped in the trenches 

 with a hand-drill, and covered with hand-hoes two inches deep, and the soil 

 packed do\yn. About the time the beets appeared above ground, a cultivator was 

 run through between the rows. When they had reached the fifth leaf, we com- 

 menced hoeing and thinning them. They were afterwards hoed once by hand 

 and thinned to eight inches apart in the rows. The cultivation afterwards was 

 with the shovel plough. October 19th, harvested six and one-half tons of solid 

 fine-grain roots. The Beets are heavier and seem to be more nutritious than in 

 past years, perhaps because of the slower growth caused by the excessive drouth. 



On examination of the thirteen farms entered for premium, we 

 are reminded of the great improvements made in the last few years in 

 the way of buildings, fences, fruit and soil, and that profitable farm- 

 ing depends very much upon the amount and quality of manure pro- 

 duced and saved on the farm. We always find the l3est crops where 

 there was the best manuring and cultivation. As we ai'e driving over 



