26 



ture our time, patience and money gave out, and we must, like the chickens, 

 get home before dark to roost. Some will be disappointed, some others should 

 have had premiums, but they must blame us little and our $10 purse more. 



S. R. Free, jj 



H. W. Langdon, > Committee. 

 E. Church, ) 



PLOWING.— HORSE TEAMS. 

 The Committee on plowing, (Horse Teams,) respectfully submit the follow- 

 ing : The predictions for the weather not warranting a fair day, or else sus- 

 picion of unfairness on the part of committee somewhat lessened the number 

 of entries, which was still further reduced in the number competing for the 

 premiums from previous trials ; but if for a moment we recall last year's 

 drenching rains, we are reminded these rewards are richly merited and do not 

 wonder the number was not greater. However this number was sufficiently 

 large to tax the judgment of your committee, as all will be conscious of the 

 fact who witnessed this part of the exhibition that plowing does not lag, but 

 keeps pace with everything else worthy of encouragement. We note a marked 

 improvement by most plowmen in the closing furrows ; leaving the dead fur- 

 rows more shallow, and in a better condition for seeding, which must draw 

 much from the argument made use of by some that the ground is becoming so 

 uneven, plowing should be discontinued. We award as follows : 



Best Plowing, Edgar S. Merrill, Lee, 

 Jd do., William Stoddard, Alford, 

 3d do., Patrick Burns, Stoukbridge, 

 4th do., H. W. Burget, Egremont, 

 5th do., John Winthrop, Stockbridge, 

 tith do., J. W T . Lowrey, Egremont, 

 7th do., M. I. Wheeler, Great Barrington, 



H. C. Rowley, 

 Wm. Wilcox, 

 Henry Hubbard, 



PLOWING.— OX TEAMS. 



The Committee on Plowing, (Ox Teams, ) submit the following report : 

 There was but one entry, and the committee recommend that the society 

 abolish the premiums offered upon plowing, (Ox Teams,) hereafter. We make 

 the following award : 



Best Plowing, David C. Millard, Egremont, $7 00 



Geo. Kellogg, ) 



Jaeed Lewis, >■ Committee. 



D. S. Powell, ) 



ORCHARDS. 



APPLE ORCHARDS. 



Your Committee, in the discharge of their duty, found each competitor very 

 earnest and untiring in his efforts to grow the best orchard in his line, showing 

 fine culture and great care. The entries were almost entirely in South Berk- 

 shire. One in particular, that of Jared Lewis, had over two hundred trees, 

 set in the spring of 1873, embracing 17 different varieties, and only one had 

 died; though quite a large number had been struck with blight in the limbs 

 during the last season, many of which have, since the fall rains, put out fresh 

 and vigorous buds and sprouts, giving evidence that the blight was caused 

 somewhat by the excessive drought of the past summer. These trees were 

 carefully selected from the Rochester nursery by Mr. Spencer of West Stock- 

 bridge, as agent,— all nice, large trees, and a goodly number are now in bear- 

 ing. Your committee counted over forty full grown apples on one tree. We 

 award as follows : 



