Reports of Committee* 



FOOT RACE. 



First premium, Thcophilus Spencer, 

 2d do., Patrick Campion, 

 3d do., Patrick Barry, 

 4th do., Francisco 13. Webster, 



Marshall Warner, j 



P. A. Russell, ,- Committee. 



George I. Kipr, ) 



ORCHARDS. 



The coin '.nit toe on reclaimed lands and orchard? for 1861 -•>, hiving at 

 tended to their duties, respectfully submit the following report: 



We regret to say that no reclaimed laud was entered for our inspection. 

 There is an apathy on the subject of draining and cultivating the waste 

 lauds of Berkshire which is not creditable to the farmers of the county. The 

 most careless observer, as he pisses around the county, must see that "much 

 land remains to be possessed" The swamps that are now exhaling miasm 

 and death should be producing sustenance for man and beast. Health and 

 thrift alike demand this. In many instances our highways pass through 

 these swamps, and even iu a warm summer's evening, the dampness is so 

 great that we involuntarily shudder at the chilly exposure and close our 

 mouths that we may not inhale the seeds of consumption and typhoid 

 fever. Whoever has any of this cold, wet land on his farm, and does not 

 drain it, is exposing the health of himself, his family, and the community. 

 If more drain tile were used, there would be less demand for pills and 

 powders. Dry and pure air gives vitality, not only to man, but to the 

 tlocks and herds. Some of the first efforts at drainage in England were 

 made by a farmer who became convinced that his sheep were suffering from 

 disease that originated from his pastures being too wet. Both cattle and 

 sheep, if free to select their grazing and sleeping grounds, choose the sweet 

 herbage and pure air of the hills. Man, less mindful of the dictates of 

 reason than the dumb beasts of their instincts, often locates his house in 

 the neighborhood of low, damp, foggy land which he neglects to drain, 

 and thus make the air more healthy and the soil more productive We 

 are so thoroughly convinced of the importance of drainage that we put, 

 this down as the first step iu successful agriculture, and hope future com- 

 mittees will not have to lament that no reclaimed lauds were offered for 

 their inspection . 



The apathy on the subject of fruit is not much less than in the matter 

 of wet, unproductive lands, if we may judge from the number of orchards 

 entered for a premium in 1867, as only two apple orchards and one of 

 pears were offered for our inspection. "Good fruit and plenty of it," 

 should be the maxim of every farmer. Fruit seems to have been the staple 

 diet of man while in the Garden of Eden, and is what all crave, especially 



