348 
PREMIUM CROPS. 
XI. PREMIUM CROPS IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 
The general character and productiveness of the 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 6f the State, to take one or two crops of wheat from the newly cleared lands, and 
these crops are usually much above the average of the State. 
Premium crops of wheat. 
Commencing with those crops for which premiums have been awarded, we find, that in 1841, Mr. 
George Schaffer, of Wheatland, Monroe county, received the State Society’s premium for that year, for 
having harvested 300 bushels of wheat from 7i 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 110 bushels and 20 pounds of wheat upon two acres. The yield per acre, according 
to this statement, was 55-j-| bushels. 
The Society’s second premium was awarded, the same year, to Stephen B. Dudley, of Ontario county, 
for having harvested 112i 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 upon an acre sown to white flint, 39|£ 
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 Cayuga county report that Sarah Warner raised 420 bushels of wheat 
upon 11 acres ; thus averaging 38iu bushels per acre. 
Thomas Ogden, of the same county, it is also reported, raised 38i 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 those 
which were raised in the Wheat district proper. That these crops have been equalled, 
and perhaps occasionally exceeded in amount, is probably true. The essential difference, 
however, which it, is proper to note, is that in the Wheat district large crops may be 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 Rufus Stephens, of Lewis county, a premium was awarded for having raised 43f 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 quarts upon one acre. 
