^■i-«^ ^-^1^ Wi^^fr>^t - ^^V^.-at there were but two applicants for these premiums ; and while they ^4- regret, that the inattention of many others, who wc.Jd have merited their consideration, has been the cause of so little competition, they were much pleased, by the unqualified testin'ony to the merits of these men, given by their respective employe They award the first premium to Thomas L.yant, who has been in the employment of Jonathan Allen, Esq. And the second to John Train, employed by Capt. Hosea Mer- rills. Per order, S. M. McKAY. ^4n abstract of the modes of raising sundry premium crops* FOUR years having elapsed since the society established the reg« ulation, that all competitors for premiums on crops should file with the Secretary-a detail of their mode of raising crops, and a descrip- tion of the soil, manuies and seeds ; the committee for publishing the doings of the society, convinced of the importance and utility of circulating among the n*embers all agricultural information, and de- sirous to execute the supposed intention of the society In adopting the above regulation, have thought proper to make the following ex- tracts from the communications ot sundry of our farmers. The particular improvement is generally put in italicks^ in each statement — in the margin the year is stated when each statement was filed — and the crops are arranged in rotation. It is to be re- gretted that many farmers have neglected to file tl)ese statements, as they were required by the legulations of the society ; and their brother farmers will, probably, thereby be deprived of much useful information that they were entitled to. As they now find lliat their names, together with all the useful agricultural information they can furnish, are not only to be left on record, but spread before tiie pub- lic, it is hoped that they v.'ill, in future, be stimulated to more promp- titude and accuracy in their statements, respecting their modes of ag- riculture. Sec. and to emulate each other in new and useful inven- tions. 1817.— OA* WHEAT. J\'athaniel Ucddington^ of Richmond, in IS 17, took a premium on a piece of Spiing Wheat, rai>ed on a yellow loam — planted the pre- vious year and manured in the hill — the ground was first ploughed in l!ie spring, and then 15 '•' loach" to the acre of horse manure sjircad ^5 o«— the wheat sowed and dragged in. From several years practice he concludes that this mode of ploughing, manuring and sowingi will produce " one qua' " more grain than lo plough in, the manure. Charles Goodrich Esq. of Pittsfield, raised on a dry loam, that had been alternately planted and sowed for four years, a piece of wheat, on which he sotved twenty bushels of good ashes to the acre, about a week after the wheat was up, and found much benefit. Joel Bradleijy of Lanesborough, says he has avoided exhausting his lands by too frequent ploughing. His (summer) wheat was sowed on land that had been pastured several years until the last, it was planted — for his wheat he ploughed and cross-ploughed as ear- ly as the season would permit, and sowed it the 19th of April, and harrowed and bushed it in — before sowing, the wheat was thorough- ly limed, which he considers a preventative of smut — the crop pro- duced 20 shock to the acre. • \8]8.— Silas Smith, of Lanesborough, sowed his spring wheat ]7th April — loam soil, excepting some parts gravelly and sandy—* 1 and I th bushel per acre — brined and limed 24 hours before soived,, and rolled in g-y/isum — the land ivas ploughed the autumn Jirevi- ous — dragged down even in the spring, and sowed, and then spread 30 loads of barn yard manure on the acre, and dragged it in with the seed — soon after the seed came ufi^fiut on 5 bushels of good ash- es to the acre, and when the grain was about Hve inches high, put on one bushel of gypsum per acre. June \5th, put on 1 and h bushels of gypsum per acre. The crop was a fine one. 1819. — Oliver P. Dickinson's winter wheat was raised on hh farm in Pittsfield ; the land had been some time ^ pasture ; the soil a str(jng loam, mixed with white stone, 7iot 7nanured — it was broken up in June, 1818 ; the last of August harrowed both ways ; then cross- ploughed, and sowed the beginning of September, and the seed ivati luell harrowed in both ways — the seed was prepared by soaking a- bout 24 hours in brine, and rolled in Plaister of Paris, and 1 and J bushels put 07i the acre — was harvested August 24, and produced 20 bushels of clean wheat to tl»e acre. Silas Smith, of Laliesborough — spring wheat, was sown April 2i, on a rich loam — had on it the preceding year peas, and the year pi e- vious to that grass — 2 and i bushels to the acre — the seed was aouk- ed in strong lime ivater and rolled in gypsum, and 12 bushels of house ashes put on to the poorest spots — no other manure. Tlie land was prepared by ploughing first early last fall and into ridges late again ; again in the spring, seed sowed broad cat,t, and cross harrowxd in. Ezekiel C/iamberlin, of Dalton, sowed a field of white chaff bear* tied wheat, on soil of a chocolate coloured loam— raised corn on it the previous year, when it was manured 20 loads to the acre — none put on since — sowed 2 bushels to the acre — firefiared by washing clean — 4 or 5 quarts of slacked lime fiut to the bushel and well stir" red 6 or 8 daijs, and if it gets dry moisten it by sfirinkling a little water — no water suffered to stand on it — but stirred in. The land was ploughed twice in the spring and harrowed, and the seed har- lowed in thorough'y both ways — the seed sowed as early in the sea- son as the state of the land would permit — this was a good crop. Joseph Shearer, Esq. of Pitisfield, sowed his summer wheat in April, 2 bushels to the acre, on ground planted to corn the previous year, the soil inclining to a marl — once ploughed, then harrowed to a level — then sowed — then ploughed the seed in, a lightish furrow— i- then harrowed light—;', good crop. 1820. — Doct Thadeus Pomeroy,oT Stockbridge, sowed his sum-> mer wheat on a sandy loam, on the bank of the Housatonuck river— ploughed deep fall and spring — and had corn on it the previous year — always turns in the stubble as soon as the crop is off, and addsy that with this mode of management, he believes wheat and corn may be raised alternately, for 'several years, on the same land to advan- tage— the corn being always dunged in the hill. For this crop the hills were split about April 20ih, and in a few days the field was well ploughed once — no manure put on — the seed bearded wheat, soaked in brine and rolled in plaister, and 5 pecks put on per acre, and then harrowed twice. Tliis field had corn on it in 1817 — wheat in 1818 — corn 1819 — wheat 1820 — *' the corn crops good, and the wheat not less than 20 bushels per acre." Oliver P, Dickinnon., of Pitisfield, raised his winter wheat on land that had been a pasture 6 or 7 years and never manured— the soil is a rich loam, with many white stones in it — in June, 1819, sowed on the pasture about one bushel of gypsum per acre — about 2 weeks after turned over the turf~the latter part of August har- rowed it well both ways — then cross ploughed it — then sowed a bubliel and a half to the acre, and harrowed it well both ways. The seed was sown the 2d and 3d of September, and prepared by soak- ing in biine from 12 to 24 hours— -some of it rolled in lime and some in plaister — the latter was best — the crop was estimated at o3 bush- els per acre. 1821. — IViomas Goldy Esq. former President of the Society, rai- sed his summer -xvheat on a g.ood red loam, nii.sed wiUi small grav- >^ el — in May, 1820, it was in grass — had been mowed several years, and manured — it was planted to corn — in April it was ploughed fqr the wheat, and sown ; the •wheat itjas firefiared by washing — then sjiread on a clean Jloor and slacked lime raked in and daily movedt until dry — then a little moistened and some filaister strewed over it — one bushel and three pecks was sowed per acre — then lightly plough- ed in— the ground was stocked to clover and herds grass, whereon was sowed one and a half" bushels of plaister per acre — then har^ rowed smooth, and in 5 days rolled. Gen. John Whiting's, oi Great-Barrington, ?t>j«?(?r wheat, \vz%vi^f sed on a light soil, with a mixture of gravel, with a considerable number of loose flint stones— had been much worn by several years fiioughing without manuring— ^m 1819 it was planted to corn, and gypsum used at the first hoeing — in 1820 sowed with oats, no ma- nure used — the oat stubble was turned in and ploughed 3 times ; sowed about the 18ih September, 1 bushel and four quarts per acre — rolled in gypsum, and dragged in both ways — then sowed with gyp- sum at the rate of one bushel per acre — one quarter of an acre of this wheat field had been planted in 1820 to potatoes, and about the usual quantity of barn yard manure put in the hills—the potato<;s were dug October I2ih — the ground immediately ploughed oncc^ and one load of manure from the barn yard spread over this part, where the wheat was decidedly the largest — the wheat of the field was half yellow bald wheat, and the other bearded, and bollj yielded about an equal crop. This crofi took the Jirst firemium. Thadetis Ponieroy, Esq. of Stockbridge, raised his summer whem on a sandy loam— in 1820 it was planted to corn and well dunged i,n the hill — in April, \82\, ploughed and harrowed twice, and plough- ed deep and harrowed level again — no manure— the seed was well soaked in brine, and sovved 2 bushels per acre, and ploughed in and harrowed level. Qcran Curtiss, of Stockbridge, sowed two acres of spring wheat on a gravelly soil — the previous year was manured with straw ma-' nure from his Distillery^ 15 loads per acre, and planted — this year no manure — the ground was once ploughed and harrowed, the wheat rolled in plaister, and ploughed in, and harrowed smooth — there win two bushels per acre of seed sown, and yielded from the piece 63 shocks and 5 sheaves, and one bushel and three quarts per shock. The land had been put to crops for many years. James B. JVard, of Pittsfield, sowed a piece of winter wheat on hard gravelly ground— v/as a pasture the preceding year, not manuf fed — except the seed rolled infilaisier — five pecks was sowed lo thft acre, and fireviously soaked 3 or 4 days in brine. The wheat iscaH" ed white wheat. The ground was ploughed three times, and har- rowed three limes. 1817.— 72 r^. Fine Branch, of Richmond, sowed two acres of ivinter rye, on ground that had been improved ten years as a sfiee/i pasture— >• previous to the fallowing in 1816, it was first ploughed in Ju- ly, and sowed August 15 — a little over 1 bushel per acre; the ground was twice ploughed and well harrowed previous to sowing ; no preparation of the seed, and no manure used ; the yield was fine. 181 8. -~5i/as Smith, of Lanesborough, sowed his winter rye on a soil pf light coloured loam ; it was summer fallowed, and sown I and J bushels to the acre the 2d week in September. The seed was rolled in plaister, cross ploughed, and dragged in. 1819. — Joscfih Shearer, Esq. of Piitsfield, began to break up the sward I5ih June, ivhe7i the grass was well grown ; the last of Au- gust harrowed twice ; sowed September 1, three bushels per acre ; then ploughed the grain in ; in the ploughing and harrowing after the sward was first turned, care was taken not to disturb the grass beneath. The soil was a loam and gravel, rather a heavy soil. 1820 — Oliver P. Z^irXr/wseK, of Pittsfield, raised his winter rye on ground that had been improved as a pasture for 6 or 7 years, and never manured ; the soil a rich loam ; bioke it up in June ; let it lay until the last of August ; then harrowed it both ways thoroughly ; then cross ploughed it and sowed it, 1 and J bushel per acre ; first soaked in brine about 24 liours, and then rolled in plaister ; it yiel- ded a little over 30 bushels to the acre. 1821. — Sewell Sargeant, of Stockbridge, raised his winter rye on a field tljat had been improved two years for a sheep pasture, i\\Q soil of wltich is a red sandy loam ; no manure was used ; the ground v/as ploughed first in June ; then lay until August, when it was har- rowed once and ploughed again j then sowed 1 bushel to the acre the 23th of August and harrowed twice. Elins Dike, of Piitsfield, raised his winter rye on land that had been improved for crops many years ; ploughed it first the last of July, 1820 ; in August ploughed again deep, and then sowed 35 quarts per acre ; no manure or plaister was used ; the land had lain to grass thrf-e years ; tliere was 14 acres in the piece, and a very fine crop. ./a?nes B. JVard, of Pitlsfield, winter rye, was sovved on land that ^9 had been a pasturage, of a yellow loam, mixed with gravel, not ma. Jiured ; was ploughed June 2d, 1820, and 13th September ; harrow- ed 3 times, 1st August and the middle of September, the 2 last times ; sowed 15lh September the white rye, 1 and i bushels per acre. ISll.—CORjY, Samuel Dcwcy, of Richmond. The soil is a loam ; the prece- ding year was sowed to rye ; it was ploughed early in the spring, and frozen after ploughed ; ridged and furrowed and planted May 8th ; manured in the hill, 1 shovel full in a hill, took 25 loads for 4 and A acres ; the manure came from under the barn ; the corn roll, ed in plaister ; after the first hoeing ashed 12 bushels ; hoed three limes. Jv'athaniel Reddington, of Richmond ; his corn was raised on lane! that had been ploughed for many years ; a yellowish loam, with lime stone ; had rye on ii the previous year ; the manure was put under the barn- the sfiring bffore^ and was put in the hill ; this mode of preparing manure is considered good. 1818. — James Barker, of Pittsfield ; his corn was planted in a field that had been mowed 5 years ; gravelly loam; in April plough- ed it once ; May 10th harrowed it, and 18th harrowed it ; 22d har- rowed it ; May 26, planted it in hills ; rolled the seed in plaister ; hoed it three times, and plaistered it each lime. Charles Goodrich, Esq. of Pittsfield, raised his corn on ground that had been mowed the 3 previous years ; manured it in the hole with monL're from the horse stab'e and hogpen, c?2(/ steeped the seed in a solution of saltpetre a feiv hours, Lemuel PoMEitor, of Pittsfield, raised a field oF corn on a grav- elly loam ; used no manure, but cole dust from the blaclcsmiths sho/i^ mixed with burnt sea coal, and the ashes naturally made in the shop. and the crop was very fine, 1819. — TiMoTHT JVAiwiFniGHT, of Grcat-Barrington, raised a line crop oi corn on a sandy soil, some loam ; it had been mowed !0 or 12 years and nearly run out ; the 2 years previous it had been ploughed ; this spring it was ploughed once, and eight waggon loads of barn yard manuie put in the hill to the acre, and planted with eight rowed yellow and white corn mixed, the liilis 3 feet each way, 4 stalks in a hill ; harrowed it each way carefully liie first hoe ing ; the 21 hneing slight, afier ploughing it each way. Thomas Gold, Esq. of Pittsfield, had 5 acres of corn on a loam soil, v;iih a mixture of gravel, had been mowed 5 years preceding ; ^0 it was broken up in May, deefi and well turned over ; then harrow- ed in the course of the furroios until fine and level ; then well cov- ered with bam yard manure ; sfiread and harrowed in ; then fur- rowed for planting, in parallel lines a little short of 3 feet ; planted 26th May ; the seed steeped one night in toarm brine, then rolled io plaister ; the first hoeing preceded with a corn harrow, the second by the plough, the 3d by the hoe only, and slight ; the cfop was very i^ne, and in the opinion of the cultivator this is the best and cheapest mode of raising corn. Jonathan Jllen, Esq. of Pittsfield, raised 2 and J acres of fine corn on old orchard ground, by cover in c the Ground completely with coarse barn yard manure, of straw, (3'c. and filouched in, and the corn plaistered ; the soil a loam, mixed with gravel. Thomas Melville, Esq. of Pittsfield, formerly President, raised his corn on a loam, mixed with gravel ; it was green sward in 1818 ; ploughed deep in the fall ; harrowed early in the spring ; ploughed in May, and harrowed June 8th, furrowed deep, at 3 feet distance ; Jiiled the/urrows nvith straw manure, 20 loads per acre. James Green, of Lanesborough, planted on gravelly warm ground, had been partly sward and partly a corn crop ; put on 15 loads of barn yard manure to the acre, after plouched twice and harrowexi once and plouched in a part and harrowed a part ; likes the har- rowing best ; planted the 8 rowed yellow corn ; soaked the seed 6 days in buttermilk and rolled it in plaister ; and planted the hills 2 feet 8 inches apart ; the principal use of the buttermilk, he says, is to cause the p'aister to adhere ; he put on half a bushel of plaister to the acre on the hills ; hoed it three limes ; the two first was pre- ceded by the harrow, and the last by the plough ; planted May 16th. Jsahel Foot, of Lee, planted 2 acres ; previous to ploughing spread 60 carl loads of manure on it ; the soil is a gravelly loam ; it was ploughed well, then ridged for planting ; the corn rolled in plais- ter and planted in rows (distance omitted) hoed twice and plaistered each time, and yielded a great crop. Silas Smith, of Lanesborough, planted 2 acres on gravelly loam pround ; had spring wheat on it the previous year ; ploughed the hst fall ; this spring 33 waggon loads of compost manure put on ;he acre nfter it was cross dracced, the manure was laidiii a furrow and 2 furrows turned tccethcr ; about one third more seed was j)lantcd on the acre than common, and was droped by small boys 8 i/j- c.'ies apart ; covered it with the hoe ; first hoeing ploughed be- iween the rows ; 4 furrows from and 4 towards the corn ; 2d hoe- ing turned 2 furrows from and 2 towards the corn ; 3d tinie plough- ed as usual ; 4th time hoed without ploughing ; the corn was plan- ted 21st May, and the rows 5 feet afiart. 1821. — Orange J. /^^i?>rt;3/, of Lanesborough, planted 2 acres on high ground, had been mowed 6 years preceding without manur- ing ; in October last, 15 loads of barn yard manure were put on one acre and sfiread before -winter ; in May the 2 acres were ploughed, and 15 loads oi barn manure put on the other acre, and sfiread ; May 20th, harrowed the field 3 times and the same way that it Avas ploughed J 25th planted ; at weeding used the little harrow ; the 2d and 3d hoeing the plough ; the last hoeing was July 10th ; the seed was the 12 rowed yellow corn j the soil a black loam, mixed with gravel ; the subsoil 2 feet below a hard pan of clay ; put on 6 quarts of seed per acre, in hills 3 feet apart, from 4 to G kernels in a hill ; and was plaistered, 10 quarts per acre, immediately after the first hoeing ; the acre manured in October produced the larcest crop ; it-wao the first premium piece. jisHLET Williams^ Esq. of Dalton, states, that a part of the soil is a deep brown mould, and a part sandy ; it has been mowed for near ten years past, and sparingly manured ; the last year the sandy part had clover on it. In the fall of 1820, I put on from 15 to 20 loads of barn yard manure (supposed per acre) and early in the spring of 1821 spread it ; early in May ploughed it, a part deep and a part licht ; has observed no material difference from the modes of ploughing ; then harrowed ; furrowed one way ; the rows 3 and i feet each way ; the corn is a mixture of the 8 and 12 row- ed kinds, yellow ; rolled in plaister and an excess put in the hills to accommodate worms and birds, or to be extracted, if necessary ; then howed it three times, the last early in July ; the worms made great havock, and at the second hoeing were sto/ied by a small quan- tity of dry ashes ; at the hoeings the common horse plough was used. Silas Smith, of Lanesborough, two acres of corn, planted on grav- elly land, that was planted to potatoes the two previous years, and manured in the hill ; this year the manure, viz. 60 leads of roite?i manure from an old building- and hog /ten, was sfiread on^ and ths land then ridged four furrows to the ridge ; planted May SOlh ; hoed three times, and plaister put on at ench, and 12 bushels of ashes on the fioorest hills ; the hills were 18 inches by 4 leet cpart, which method gave 48 hills to the square rod ; the first hoeing to- wards tlic hill, 11)5 second fromj and the third tov/ards. 6 'Z IS17.— OATS. Joel BRADLEr, of Lanesborough, observes that he has ever a^ voided exhausting his lands by too much ploughing. His oats veere on a field that had been twelve years a pasture, previous to 1816 ; then ploughed and planted to corn, and slightly manured ; sowed the oats the 24th of April ; the ground was ploughed and cross- ploughed as early in the spring as possible ; the yield of oats was estimated at 50 bushels per acre ; the piece contained 7 acres, and was appropriated in equal quantities to oais, summer wheat and rye, avd all Jine crops. Mr. Bradley was presented by the society, in 1815, with one pint of Irish Oats, and then sowed them ; last year sowed the product, and this year again, and has noio 15 shock ; and in his opinion are preferable to any other oats raised in Berkshire. 1818. — James Barker, of Pitisfield, sowed his oats on ground that the last year was sowed to rye ; the stubble turned in last fall, and on account of the cold and backward spring, he determined onf a new mode, and sowed after harroivinc, without plouchinG ; put 11 bushels to 5 acres ; sowed the last week in April, harrowed them in twice, and as soon as up sowed on half a bushel of plaisier per acre. 1819 and 1820, the applicants omitted to file thefr account of cul- tivation, &:c. 1821. — Levi Goodrich, of Pittsfield, manured his land the pre- vious season, at the rate of 15 loads per acre ; this spring ploughed the land twice ; last year the field was planted to corn ; sowed two bushels and a half per acre, and dragged them in ; the soil a rcdish loam. Vine Branch, of Richmond, sowed his oats on a soil of black colour and light nature, it had corn on it the last year, and was ma- nured in the hill ; sowed 2 and | bushels per acre, April 28th ; pie- pared (he ground by splitting the corn hills, one furrow in a row ; ploughed it cross ways, thc.i sowed and harrowed (in the seed) eacii way. IQ19.— POTATOES. By Thomas Goi.d^ Esq. The land is a dark loam, and the two preceding years had on it wheat and rye ; it was ploughed in the fall of 1818, in May, 1819, it was cross ploughed very deep, and left in the furrow very loose and fine ; then pieliy deep marked in:o parallel lints, and planted the first week in June, in hills a liitle un- der 3 feet apart ; the plough was chiefiy used in weeding and hoe- ing ; the land turned towards the hills of moderate depth, and then slightly 'dressed witli the hoe ; the second hoeing was done in like manner, only deeper ploughed ; the potatoes were fit for eating the 25th Sept. After the first hoeing a suitable quantity of gypsum was put on the hills ; the crop was abundant, and the potatoes large and fine. -In 1820. Mr. Gold gave a similar account of his mode of rai- sing potatoes, and it was highly approved by the viewing committee. 1821. — Levi Hinsdale planted his premium potatoes on ground that had been occupied for a sheep pasture, and ploughed early in the spring, before the frost was entirely out ; then let it lay until May 23lh, when he harrowed it thoroughly with the furrows, when drills were made with the plough, nor so deefi as to disturb the old furrow, three and one third feet apart ; planted the potatoes in hills at the distance of three feet, and at the rate of 18 bushels per acre, and planted without cutting ; covered with a hoe ; were ploughed be- twixt the first of July, and hoed once. 1818.— PEASE. Silas Smith's v/evQ sowed on green sward, which had been mowed 5 years, turned over in the spring, on a warm, loamy soil ; sov/ed two bushels per acre on the Bih of May, and first rolled the seed in plaister ; June 20ih, sowed one bushel of plaister on the fioorest fiarts ; this made the piece even, and it was stout. 1819 — Silas SuiTn sowed 2 acres, a part loamy and a part grav- elly sol', on land that was sowed the preceding year to spring wheat^ and manured the gravelly part at the rate of 20 waggon loads per acre, from the l.Kirn yard, that was thoroughly rotten ; this year no manure, except tlie seed was rolled in gypsum ; put two bushels of seed to the acre, of the green kind ; ploughed the land last autumn, .".iid cross iiari'ow'cd it this spring ; sov.'cd tiie seed broad cast 2 1st Anvil, and plougiied in with a liglit line furrow. 1S21. — Levi Ooodhich raised his pease on a field that was plant- ed last year to corn, and i J cart loads ot manure from the barn y.-ird put on per acre ; no manure this year ; the b&il is a redish lonm j |)!ou;;-heu it twice ; put on 2 and h bu'jhels of seed per acre, and uraggcd lliera in. FLJX. The socitly did not encourap;e the growlli of Ibx until 1820, and it h;;d neaiiy run out ; but this year, 1821, this iwipoitant ciop w^s very frequent and aburdant. 1820. TnoJi.is Melville, E.u/. of Boston, on his farm in PiMs- fi^id, sowed a pijce ou a biun hoii, g;'?;n sw:i!d,!n ISID j plou^ji'icJ ^4 deep in the fall ; harrowed 20th of April ; ploughed and harrowed again April 30th ; sowed the next day 1 and 3 bushels of seed per acre, and harrowed in the seed, once with a small harrow, and then with a bush. A 2d piece on a gravelly loam ; manured in 1818 from the hog pen; in 1818, and in 1819 for corn; April 29, 1820, carried on (one acre supposed) 10 loads of hog manure, spread and ploughed it in and harrowed with light harrows ; next day sowed the seed, and with it 8 bushels of ashes, and harrowed twice with light harrows. 1821. — Levi Bjnsdale sowed on land that, in ths spring of 1820, was part of a sheep pasture ; ploughed about the middle of IVIay, and planted !o potatoes, no manure ; tfiis sfiring. about the first of May, ploughed it, and in 10 days ploughed it again, sowed 1 and -4 bushels of seed per acre, and harrowed it in well twice. Levi Goodrich raised his flax on ground that was last year put to potatoes, of a redisK loam — ploughed it twice in May — sowed 2 bushels of seed on an acre and a quarter, and dragged it well. ORCHARDS. The following abstract is from a letter of the Hon. Caleb Hyde, jn answer to tlie Agricultural Committee of 1821, on that subject.— It is regretted there is not room for the letter, verbatim. Doct- Hyde states, that having observed the (old) orchards in Berkshire to be failing, he was led to reflect on the cause ; and from the best observations he could make, the lands appropriated to orcharding bad been either croped to excess, without manuring, or neglected and suirered to run over to a tough sward — the trees in a very bad state, with dead limbs, their bodies covered with moss and rougli bark j llie fruit poor — small in size and quantity — consequently he was led to make experiments with his own trees m similar condilio7i, and whivh succeeded much beyond his expectations, viz. Previous to 1816, the orchard had been mowed, and very little attention to trim, ining the trees, or eniici-.ing the soil — ploughed the ground in the fail — manured it well — put two bushels of yard manure aiound the body of each tree — the nexi spring planted the field to corn — had all the turf hoed from around the trees and supplied the place wiih maiHire and light earth— in the lall repealed the manure around the tree, observing not to put it so near the trunk of the tree as to make a harbor for mice — in IS 18 sowed the land to ohts, and heids-grass seed — clover he considers unfriendly to oichards — since that his ground lias jitided iargc crops of grass. He manured around the S5 trees in the spring j?i a /lea/i, so as to check the grass /Acrf— some- times used chip manure. This process has rendered the soil very light under the trees. He scraped the bodies after a rainy season with a Iioe — cut off the dead branches and eradicated the sprouts at the roots ; and, as far as was practicable, cut off the perpendicular lin^bs and such as rub, leaving only those horizontal. Worms are a great injury to the tree and fruit, and should be destroyed by remo- ving the nest and killing such as stick to the limbs, early in the spring — this course practised faithfully will, in tv/o or three seasonsj entirely destroy them. " The plumb tree, in this quarter, has been nearly destroyed by a funs^us on the limbs. I have recovered some of my old trees by cu'.iing off the diseased limbs, digging around the roots, and apply- ing ashes." CLOVER. David Chap in, of Richmond, sowed 3 acres of red clover from im/iorted seed, that yielded this and the last year exceeding five tons per acre— his particular mode of cultivation is omitted — but the kind of seed it is supposed is worthy of a more general cultivaiion. FARMING TOOLS, 1818. — Maj. Thomas Melville, jr. agent for Thomas Mel- ville, Esq. this year offered for premium several improved tools, of a new description, worthy of the attention ot our farmers, viz. three Harroivs, constructed so as to be worked together, or sepaiately— also, a species of Chain Plough. A particular description of these articles, and their use, can be obtained of Maj. Melville. ':J^H The Jbllowing gentlemen have been Presidents of this Society, viz.. 1811. Sjjiuel H. rf^ffSEifii?, by the act of incorporation. 1811. £lKJNJH WAfSONf Esq. 1812. SAME. 1813. SAME. 1814. SAME. 1815. MaJ. Thomas Melville, jr.— Thomas Gold, Esq. 1816. Thomas Gold, Esq. 1817. SAME. 1818. Maj. Thomas Melville, jr. 1819. Hon. William Walker, 1820. Jonathan Jllen, Esq. 1821. SAME. Officers of the Berkshire Agricultural Society, elected October 4, 1821. Jonathan Allen. Esq of Pittsfield, President. Hon. Henry W. Dwight, of Stockbrid^e, \st Vice-President. Hon. Henry Sliaw, of Lanesborough, 2d Vice-President. Thomas A. Gold, Esq of Piitsfield, Cor. and Rec. Secretary, Mr. Samuel D. Colt, of Pittsfield, Treasurer. STANDING COMMITTEES. Mr. James D. Colt, •Mr. Oliver P. Dickinson, Charles Goodrich, Esq. Maj. Samuel M. McKay, Capl Jonathan Allen, 2d. Mr, James Buel, Hon. Nathan Willis, Joseph Shearer, Esq. John DickinsoHj Esq. } } } Committee on ./Agriculture. Committee on Manufactures. Committee on Domestic Animals. 2n HONORARY MEMBERS. RESIDENCE. John Adams, Ex, Pres. U. S. Quincey, Mas.