20 Reports of Committees. 



Of the five pieces examined we found two which would cut about twenty- 

 live bushels to the acre — a very satisfactory yield. The mischief of the 

 weevil was not often observed, and less frequently in the bearded than in 

 the bald varieties. The new hybrid or cross-bred Canadian wheat, now 

 attracting much hopeful attention, might prove a valuable acquisition to us, 

 and it is hoped that some of our farmers will test it the coming year. 



We award as follows : 



For the beat acre Winter Wheat, Milton Adams of New Marlboro, $7 00 



2d do., William M. Chapiu of Sheffield, 6 00 



3d do., William H. HiU of Lenox, 5 00 



SPRING WHEAT 9 ENTRIES. 



For the best acre Spring Wheat, J. H. Wagner of Alford, $7 00 



2d do., William O. Curtis of Lenox, C 00 



3d do., P. M. Shaylor of Lee, 5 00 



4th do., George O. Peck of Lenox, 4 00 



5th do., Water W. Hollcnbeck of Great Barrington, 3 00 



FOUR ACRES RYE— It ENTRIES. 



The rye crop of the county, taken as a whole, was this season singularly 

 poor, very many fields being hardly worth harvesting. It was a noticeable, 

 but not explained fact, that in the interior of most fields the rye heads were 

 much heaviest. We award : 



For the best 4 acres Winter Rye/Michael King of Sheffield, $8 00 



2d do., Orren Curtis of Sheffield, 7 00 



3d do., M. I. Wheeler of Great Barrington, 6 00 



4th do., Henry L. Smith of Lee, 5 00 



5th do., P. Abbey of Great Barrington, 4 00 



ONE ACRE RYE 13 ENTRIES. 



For the best one acre Winter Rye, Charles Westover of Sheffield, $7 00 



2d do., Orren Curtis of Sheffield, 6 00 



3d do., J. H. Rowley of Egremont, 5 00 



4th do., Charles Spurr of Sheffield, 4 00 



5th do., M. I. Wheeler cf Great Barrington, 3 00 



6th do., Dr. J. L. Miller of Sheffield, 2 00 



FOUR ACRES OATS — 18 ENTRIES. 



We find it is too often the practice of farmers to cultivate oats on low 

 mucky soils, which, while they produce an abundance of straw, do not 

 yield the heaviest grain. We saw many otherwise fine crops which were 

 badly lodged, and "weak straw" was a common complaint, especially 

 among grain-feeding farmers. Having frequently noticed stout crops of rye 

 and oats upon old coal pit bottoms, the straw of which was perfectly erect, 

 while all about it was badly lodged, we suggest that trials be made, where 

 practicable, of top-dressing grain fields with ashes or charcoal dust to 

 strengthen the stalk. 



In regard to time of harvesting it would seem that to obtain the heav- 

 iest and best oats for market it is necessary to let them get nearly ripe, so 

 ripe that a few of the lowest berries in the ear will shell in cutting Al- 

 though this practice is opposed to the teaching of most agricultural writers, 

 we present it with some confidence as recommended by farmers who are ac- 

 counted successful. We award : 



For Uie best 4 acres of Oats, Henry L. Smith of Lee, $7 00 



2d do., Theron L. Foote of Lee, 6 00 



3d do., L. M. Winchel of Alford, 5 00 



4th do., Henry W. Burget of Egremont, 4 00 



