REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, 



SUMMER CROPS. 



The Committee on Summer Crops having attended to their duty, respect- 

 fully submit the following report : The number of entries being so great this 

 year, it was found necessary to commence viewing earlier than usual. Rye and 

 Upland Grass being very forward, and the Oat prop so late, and flower-gardens 

 not in their prime until the 1st of August, we found it necessary to go over 

 some portions of the ground the second time to do justice to competitors. This 

 examination occurring in July or August, farmers find it difficult to leave their 

 own work, but it well repays them to travel over the old county of Berkshire, 

 and enjoy its many fine drives, surrounded on either side by such beautiful 

 scenery, besides meeting old friends and forming many new acquaintances, be- 

 ing very hospitably treated at every farmer's door. 



Still further, one finds a, few days well spent, by the knowledge he gains 

 from seeing the different modes of farming. 



The crops were all extra good — the Oat crop in particular — and we found 

 it very difficult to decide, therefore we shall not be surprised if some dissent 

 from (mr decisions. 



Winter wheat, — This was not as good as usual. The winters are too severe 

 to eneourage farmers to raise it. Most of the pieces wen; thin, but clean. 



Thomas H. Curtiss called our attention to a new variety of Winter Wheat, 

 called the Tapohannock. It has long heads, well filled, and very white, and 

 was by far the best Wheat we examined. We highly commend it to the farmers 

 in this vicinity. 



Spring wheat. — The season whs bo wet and late that less Wheat than usual 

 was sown. Still we found a fair crop. All but one piece stood very thin, 

 showing that, the fanners do not use seed enough. 



Rye. —There was more than an average crop, and it looked better than we 

 expected to find it, after the open winter it had to contend with. We decided 

 that the severity of the weather had not injured the "Old Rye,'' which was 

 shown us, as much as it had the new. Rye is more generally raised than other 

 kinds of grain, as it is more profitable, the straw commanding a high price and 

 there is always a ready sal* for the grain, while it does not exhaust the soil as 



