64 



found it for their interest to be more liberal in the treatment of 

 their crops ; but these farmers are scattered throughout the 

 county, and their influence cannot fail to be felt in their imme- 

 diate neighborhood, for when farmers become convinced, by prac- 

 tical experiments under their own observation, that a little extra 

 manure and better care will return greater profit, we think they 

 will not be long in following such examples. Farmers should 

 consult each other and compare results ; for by the experience of 

 others, our own knowledge may be greatly improved. Let farm- 

 ers, then, not only carefully examine the statements of those who 

 offer crops for premium, but let them examine the crops them- 

 selves, and not only these, but the crops of all successful farmers 

 within their reach. That it requires good management to make 

 the cultivation of grain profitable, Ave need not assert ; but we 

 believe that the energy, foresight and prudence which is the 

 foundation of success in other occupations will be successful when 

 applied to the cultivation of farm crops. 



The Committee award the premiums as follows : — 



The 1st prem. of $8.00, on corn, to E. and J. Sias of Milton. 

 " 2d " 5.00, " A. L. Smith of Dover. 



" 3d " 8.00, " C. C. Sewall of Medfield. 



" 1st " 6.00, on wheat, to C. C. Sewall of Medfield, 



" 2d " 4.00, " Horatio Mason of Medway. 



" 1st " 4.00, on rye, to Horatio Mason of Medway. 



For the Committee, 



LUCIUS CLAPP, Chairman. 



E. AND J. SIAS'S STATEMENT. 



The field of corn entered by us for a premium contained one and 

 one-eight acre, and is the same piece of land on which we raised 

 our premium crop of 109f„^Q bushels of corn per acre in 1855. 

 Last year we put on about ten cords of manure per acre, and 

 planted with early potatoes. We had a very good crop, and 

 after harvesting them, which was done early, for market, we had 

 a lai'ge crop of flat turnips from the same ground. The present 

 year Ave spread six cords of manure, and April 28th Ave ploughed 

 it in. iMay 9th it Avas ploughed the second time, furrowed out as 

 near three feet, each Avay, as Ave could, four cords of piggery ma- 

 nure put in the hill, and from that to the 12th, it Avas planted 

 Avith six kernels to each hill. As tlie kernels of corn Avcre very 

 large, it took about half a bushel to plant the field. We intend- 

 ed, if possible, to have it average five stalks to the hill ; bu' 

 it not coming up Avell, and the crows helping themselves lib- 



