Reports of Committes. 



Early Summer Crops. 



Whole number of entries, 94. Four acres of Rye, 27; one acre of Rye, 41 ; 

 five acres of Grass, 11; three acres of Grass, 15. 



Vour committee on Early Summer Crops commenced their examination 

 June 26th, and completed the work in nine days. There were entries in thir- 

 teen towns — there being none north of Pittsfield. We made a thorough ex- 

 amination of each piece of Rye and Grass. The growth of rye was very large. 

 We found pieces where the stalks of rye w^ere six feet and upward in height, 

 ■and the heads were well filled. Very few pieces were lodged or struck with rust. 

 We found a vast difference in opinion as to the quantity of seed to be used per 

 •acre. The seed used varied all the way from one bushel to four and one-half 

 per acre. We think both extremes ought to be avoided. The quantity of seed 

 ■used on the pieces that received the premiums was from a bushel and a half to 

 two bushels per acre. If seeding down is done with grain, we think rye is pre- 

 •ferabls to oats, because rye does not draw so heavily on the fertility of the land. 



The Grass crop was badly effected by the dry weather, although the premium 

 pieces were very heavy. The work we have completed has been a great school 

 to us. We w^ould express our thanks to the society for the appointment given 

 us, and to the different families for the hospitality extended. We would award 

 the following: 



;Best four acres of Winter Rve, M. I. Wheeler, Great Barrington, 



2d do, Silas Rote, Sheffield, 



3d do, George Holleubeck, Egremout, 



4th do, N. B. Turner, Great Barrington. 



5t''i do, George A. Stevens, New Marlboro, 



6th do, Frederick Abbey. Great Barringtou. 

 Best one acre of Winter Eye. P. M. Shaylor & Son. Lee, 



2d do, J. M. Mackie. Great Barriugton. 



3d do. Parker Stoddard, Sheffield, 



4tli do, Thomas Greenwood. Great Barrington, 



5th do, E. D. Shears, Sheffield, 

 Best five acres of Cultivated Grass, L. P. Keyes, New Marlbor<». 



2d do, Warren Crissey, Great Barrington, 



3d do, J. M. Mackie, Great Barrington, 



4th do, W. II. Day. Great Barrington, 

 Best three acres of Cultivated Grass, Sanford A. Foote, Pittsfield. 



2d do, M. S. Bidwell, Monterey, 



3d do, Warren Crissey, Great Barrington. 



4th do. W. C. Dalzell, Egremont. 



EH. SLATER, 

 F. M. CHURCH, 



Late Slimmer Crops. 



Whole number of entries, G6. Oats, 31 entries. Your committee com- 

 menced their examination July 26. We were disappointed, after such a severe 

 drouth, to find so large a list of entries. The crop suffered from late frosts or 

 a blight which was thought by many to have ruined the ci'op completely, but 

 they outgrew the blight and we harvested a fair crop in South Berkshire.* The 

 growth of straw was short with heads long and very large. The best pieces we 

 examined were planted with a machine with 2^ bushels of seed sowed to the 

 acre. We advise farmers to use more care in selecting seed. Some pieces we 

 viewed showed so much charlock and thistles we did not consider them worthy 

 •of a premium. 



Barley, 6 entries. Barley we found to Ix- an average crop, we saw ))ut few 



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