60 , TRAXSACTIOXS. 



as \vcl]. Botli in the reclaiming of swamp land and in the cropping 

 of their lands generally, they have done well. Their practice proves 

 farming to be a paying business, more profitable than any other busi- 

 ness equally safe. Between them as compared with each other, and 

 ■when both were b/ought into competition with Mr. R. W. Smith, the 

 question was one which it seemed almost impossible to decide. 

 Your committee, however, believed that Mr. Smith's farm manage- 

 ment was quite as good as theirs, and his statement v,'as somcv.-hat 

 full, conforming more nearly than theirs with the conditions on which 

 these premiums were offered, which two considerations taken together, 

 induced them to award the second premium to Royal W. Smith of 

 Hadlcy, unless Mr. Huntington, whose farming we much approve, 

 but v.hose statement was very deficient, will consent to make out a 

 new and more full statement, one that shall be satisfactory to the 

 Executive Committee, in which case we award the second premium 

 to him. 



We do not understand that the rules of the Society require Io7ig 

 statements. It is, however, to be supposed that the man v.'ho takes 

 your premiums for good farm management, is a good farmer, that his 

 example is worth considering, at least, if not worthy in all respects of 

 imitation ; and if so, then it is incumbent on the competitor to make 

 such a statement as would enable other farmers to comprehend his 

 projceedings and to imitate them if they choose. We specially com- 

 mend that part of Mr. R. W. Smith's statement, which relates to the 

 composting of manure for his corn. 



STATEMENT OF AUSTIN SMITH & SONS. 



The Farm which we have entered for premium consists of sixty- 

 four acres, situated in Sunderland, twenty-six acres being contained 

 in the homestead, and thirty-eight acres in the two meadows in town. 



The greater proportion of the soil is a sandy loam, the remainder 

 a clayey loam. 



Fences are dispensed with, except on twenty acres of the home- 

 stead, the remainder being employed in cultivating, in rotation, the 

 various crops raised upon the farm. 



During the present year, our farm has been cultivated, as follows : 

 twenty-four acres in grass ; fifteen in broomcorn ; thirteen in Indian 

 corn ; three in wheat ; four in rye ; two and one-half in oats, and 

 one half acre in potatoes. 



It has been our aim to labor for the improvement of the farm, 

 rather, than the largest possible present crop. This we endeavor to 



