REPORT 



Of the Committee on Field Crops of the American Insti- 

 tute on the garden of Henry Smith, of Astoria, and 

 on the farms of William J. Townsend, of Astoria, and 

 Samuel B. Townsend, of Newtown, Long Island. 



To the American Institute: 



Your committee appointed to examine field crops, respectfully re- 

 port: 



That they visited Astoria on the 9th inst., and were there met by 

 Mr. Wm. J. Townsend, who kindly placed his carriage at the dispo- 

 sal of the committee to convey them from point to point. 



They first visited the garden of Mr. Henry Smith, a few minutes 

 -drive from the ferry, occupying some two acres and a half; soil a 

 dry loam. One acre surrounds the house, part of which is devoted 

 to the culture of flowers and fruit, the remainder to culinary ve- 

 getables; the marrowfat peas, lettuce, beets, &c., were of fine appear- 

 ance. 



Mr. Smith called the attention of the committee particularly to 

 his gooseberries, which were of large size and delicious flavor, and 

 free from mildew; while those of his neighbors around have been 

 entirely destroyed. He manures them well with barn yard manure, 

 and is careful to cut all dead wood from the bushes. He has not suf- 

 fered from insects this season; in one instance only a small tree was 

 stripped of its foliage. About one acre is divided into lots and cul- 

 tivated as follows: 



A small portion of Illinois corn for cattle, producing at the rate 

 of 100 bushels per acre. Sweet corn for the table, of good size and 

 looking well; potatoes, early sovereigns now ripe, and being used 

 daily; later varieties of the Devonshire, red and French yellow, the 



