Reports of Committee; 



with and farnisll d to the soil in some form, or our lands will deteriorate, 

 and crops fail to e remunerative. There should be a constant endeavor to 

 improve the qua y of our fruits and vegetables, by selecting the earliest 

 and plumpest s Is and introducing new varieties. Skill, cultivation and 

 perseverance ha wrought wonders in this respect. Compare our Green- 

 ings, Spitzenber >, Baldwins, &c., with the inferior crab apple from which 

 they took their rigin, the Vergaliens and Bartletts, with the hard choky 

 and unwholesom pear, the melting, downy peach with the bitter acrid fruit 

 from which it spj tng; or compare that almost indispensable article of food 

 the potato, with ;he unpalatable tubers found growing wild on this conti- 

 nent, from wine they were introduced, or that most important of all the 

 cereals for household purposes, wheat, with the bitter worthless species of 

 grass seed from which it was developed, and so we might enumerate. 

 We fling out these few suggestions, hoping some will be prompted to en- 

 quire ; How can I better my condition as a farmer ? and by study, prac- 

 tice and experience, as has been suggested, find a solution to the question. 

 Farming is a noble occupation, and the farmers themselves the back-bone 

 and sinew of our nation. Well may the successful fanner be proud of his 

 line estates, nimble steeds, sleek herds, fleecy flocks and luxuriant crops. 

 Jlis is a life of independence which no other occupation equals, and is in a 

 measure, devoid of that excitement and care which harass the king and lux- 

 urious millionaire. In the great battle of life, let them come forward into 

 the front ranks, bearing upon their conspicuous standard the significant 

 motto, " Excelsior." 



We would not forget to mention that the gentlemanly proprietors of 

 those estates w T e visited, extended to us their hospitality, with a warmth 

 and generosity which entitles them to our sincere thanks We award the 

 following premiums. 



Whole number of entries 1(51, classed as follows : Corn, four acres, 19 

 entries; buckwheat, IT entries; potatoes, 32 entries; beans, 5; beets, 5 

 entries; carrots, 1) entries; turnips, 9 entries; cabbages, 9 entries; cran- 

 berries, 1 entry; hops, 3 entries; sowed corn, -1 entries; farms, 9 entries. 

 For best four acres of corn, Orrin Curtiss of Sheffield, $10 (JO 



2d do., Frederick Abbey of Great Barrington, 8 00 



3d do., David S. Draper of Great Barrington, 7 00 



4 th do., P. M. Shaylor of Lee, 6 00 



5th do., Henry L. Smith of Lee, 5 00 



6th do., Warren Crissey of Great Barrington, 4 00 



Having $14 in our hands to award for sugar beets and cranberries, there 

 being but one entry, we award an extra premium to L. S. Butler of Lenox, 

 on four acres of corn, $2 00 



do., Frank K. Hinckley of Lee, 2 00 



do., Guy Day of Great Barrington, 2 00 



For the best one acre corn, Miles Avery of Great Barrington, 9 00 



2d do., Amaziah Gaines of Stockbridge, 8 00 



3d do., Jolm Hickcy of Great Barrington, 7 00 



