34.8 PREMIUM CROPS. 



XI. PREMIUM CROPS IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 



The general character and productiveness of tlie soils of New-York may be farther 

 shown, by a statement of the amount of the premium crops which have been reported in 

 the journals of the day. It is proper first to observe, however, that it is the practice, in all 

 parts of the State, to take one or two crops of wheat from the newly cleared lands, and 

 tliese croj^s are usually much above the average of the State. 



Premium croi's of wheat. 



Commencing with those crops for which premiums have been awarded, we find, that in 1841, Mr. 

 George SchafTer, of Wheatland, Monroe county, received tlie State Society's premium for that year, for 

 having harvested 300 bushels of wheat from 71 acres: this gives an average of forty bushels per acre. 



The Society's first premium, in 1845, was taken by Edward Rivington, of Vernon, Oneida county, 

 for having raised 1 10 bushels and 20 pounds of wheat upon two acres. The yield per acre, according 

 to this statement, was 55J-| bushels. 



The Society's second premium was atvarded, the same year, to Stephen B. Dudley, of Ontario county, 

 for having harvested 1 12^ bushels of wheat from two acres, giving an average of over 50 bushels per 

 acre. 



The third premium was taken by Abraham Fairchilds, of Arcadia, Wayne county. He raised upon 

 one acre, which was sown to Soule's variety, 51 bushels; and iijion an acre sown to white flint, 39Jf 

 bushels. 



Mr. Wright, of Vernon, Oneida county, made application for a premium, for having raised 79 bushels 

 of wheat upon two acres. Daniel Gates, of Madison, made application also for a premium, for having 

 raised 44 bushels per acre. 



The Agricultural Society of Cayusja county report that Sarah Warner raised 420 bushels of wheat 

 upon 1 1 acres ; thus averaging 38J-i bushels per acre. 



Thomas Ogden, of the same county, it is also reported, raised 3Si bushels per acre. 



Mr. Gaylord, of Onondaga county, whose farm is based upon the Onondaga limestone, raised, in 

 1841, 400 bushels of wheat upon 18 acres, making an average of 22 bushels per acre. 



The foregoing statement respecting the amount of premium crops, embraces only (hose 

 which were raised in the Wheat district proper. That these crops have been equalled, 

 and perhaps occasionally exceeded in amoiuit, is prohaldy true. The essential diflerence, 

 liowever, which it is proper to note, is that in the Wheat district large crops may he raised 

 for years in succession upon the same land ; while in the other districts, the soil is exhausted 

 by two crops, or three at most. 



The County Societies' premium crops of the Hudson and Mohawk district, for 1845, 

 were as follows : 



To Rufiis Stephens, of Lewis county, a premium was awarded for having raised 43^ bushels of white 

 Canada flint wheat upon one acre. 



The second premium for wheat, in the same county, was awarded to Israel Knight, of Lowville, for 

 having raised 34 bushels and 13 (piaits upon one acre. 



