apart, each way. When the corn is about six inches high I cultivate it both ways, with a common cultivator, and then with a plow and one horse I go through the field, plowing from the hills of corn each way. After this I again plow in the same manner, except that in this second plowing, I throw the soil towards the corn. I think this process causes a much greater yield. The average yield of my corn, which is the Yellow Dutton was sixty bushels per acre. The land upon which it was grown has had twelve different crops of grain taken from it, and has never had any manure applied to it, though it is still a rich soil. It is a black sandy loam two or three feet in depth, succeeded by yellow clay fifteen feet in depth, and limestone gravel afterwards. As I cut my corn before the frost injures it, I think the stalks used for fodder for my cattle will pay the expense of the crop, which I estimate at six dollars per acre. By this calculation, which I believe to be correct, I have left, after payment of the expenses, my corn, which is worth fifty cents per bushel. "JAMES T. WALKLIN." CHARLES AVERY'S STATEMENT: "I have been in the hop culture thirty years in New York and three in Wisconsin. I prepare my land in the spring as soon as the frosts will permit, plowing deep. I plant my roots, previously cut in pieces, six inches in length, one and one-half to two inches deep, eight feet apart each way, and put manure, covered with earth, in each hill. "The first year I plant corn among the hops. The next spring, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, I dig around the hill permitting but little sprouting. I set two poles twenty-four or twenty-five feet long to each hill, and train two vines up each pole. If the season is early I put up the second set of shoots. From fifty to seventy loads of manure is applied to each acre of ground. Good corn soil is the most suitable for hop raising. Last year I harvested five acres; this year I am cultivating eleven acres; six of which are on bottom land, and promising to yield an abundant crop. The five acres last year gave me on an average one ton of hops per acre, which I consider an ordinary yield with good care. The cost of cultivation, I think, is about six cents per pound. For drying, I use kilns lined with brick, heated with coal, which I prefer, and giving as I believe a better color and flavor, costing no more than stoves and pipes, which many use. "I commence picking the first of September. Last year I employed, on the five acres, sixteen girls for two weeks and three days. Their wages were from two to four shillings per day with board. I dry and press my hops in bales containing about two hundred pounds each. I use rope presses. I sold the yield of my five acres for fourteen hundred dollars. I consider the hop crop as sure as any I ever raised. It can be kept up for ten or twenty years with good management. "The greatest growth I ever knew, was twenty eight hundred and eighty eight pounds raised from one acre by H. P. Potter, Madison County, N. Y., still manure being applied to the land. VEGETABLES.-No. OF ENTRIES, 23. C. AVERY." Judges-THOMAS HISLOP, Milwaukee; J. C. HOWARD, Lake; H. B. HAWLEY, Milford. Best six heads of cabbage; Michael Pomerville, Watertown. Vol. Trans. Best peck of Bermuda potatoes; William R. Smith, Mineral Point. Vol. Trans. Best twelve ears of seed corn; Edgerton & McCarter, Summit. Vol. Trans. Best sample of seed corn; Mrs. Eliza Finch, Oak Grove. Vol. Trans. Best Sincia squash; R. M. Meigs, Ottawa. $1. Best sample of imperial red potatoes; D. M. Aspinwall, Farmington. Vol. Trans. Best sample of orange carrots; Walter Pease, Jr., Watertown. 1st Vol. Trans. WILLIAM R. SMITH'S STATEMENT: "The potatoes exhibited by me, and upon which the premium was awarded, are from some early potatoes raised this last spring in the island of Bermuda, W. I., and sold in the Philadelphia markets in the early part of May. "They were brought to Wisconsin by myself, and planted on the eighth of June. "The product of each hill is unusually great. The potatoes are still growing, the tops being yet green and of uncommon length of vine. The seed potatoe is as fresh as when the cutting was put in the ground. "I am unable to tell what will be their yield, as they are not yet raised from the ground. They are of most excellent quality for the table. I consider this potatoe as a new and most desirable acquisition. The Committee in their report remark, "that the display and varieties in the departments which came under their supervision, were somewhat limited. This is the more to be regretted, as for the last two years the State of Wisconsin has given unmistakeable evidence of its unrivalled capabilities as a grain producing country, and the interest commensurate with its importance should be attached to this branch of our agricultural resources. "The deficiency alluded to, however, the Committee are inclined to account for in two ways-first: the expense and inconvenience of transporting these products from a distance; and second, a diffidence and timidity on the part of many to exhibit unless possessed of something rare or extraordinary. "The exhibition of wheat, though limited, contained not one inferior or indifferent sample-indeed the quality of all, both winter and spring, would do credit to any State in the Union. The Committee had no small difficulty in making the awards, the samples being so nearly alike in point of merit. "Of Indian corn, only one exhibitor has entered the required quantity for competition, the others entering a few ears each. The latter entries, though some of them contain superior grain to the former, are consequently disqualified for competition. The Committee, therefore, made the award in favor of the former. "There was only one sample of barley entered-well colored, but not very plump. Also one of oats, of only medium quality. "Red clover seed-only one sample was exhibited-rather above medium quality, and evidently well harvested. The exhibitor of this article is entitled to no small degree of credit for its production. In the opinion of the Committee, information as to the managing and comparative profit ableness of the crop would be valuable, as it might lead to a more extensive cultivation of clover for seed in this State; especially when they consider the large amount that is annually brought from other States to supply our market. Let it be looked to in time. We have a wide country west of us that will soon need a large supply of this article.* "Of hops, one bale was exhibited, the quality and packing of which was unexceptionable. "One beautiful sample of Stowell's evergreen corn was presented. This is evidently a variety superior to most kinds of sweet corn, and likely to become a favorite with connoisseurs. "The vegetable department presented little requiring particular comment. Although containing some individual specimens of high merit, it also contained many spurious varieties, showing a want of proper care in saving or selecting the seeds thereof. The most spirited and successful exhibition in this department was that of potatoes. Many beautiful specimens were presented, some of which were entirely unknown to the Committee, who, in absence of their owners, were unable to judge of their respective merits. One very fine sample was especially interesting, from the fact of their being the second crop this year, the first having been raised in Bermuda, West Indies, and the second at Mineral Point, by Gen. William R. Smith. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.--No. OF ENTRIES, 11. Judges-DENNISON WORTHINGTON, Summit; Mrs. E. W. EDGERTON, Summit; Mrs. J. E. DODGE, Potosi. Best ten knots of woolen yarn; Mrs. Sophia Schuschard, Delafield. $2. Best ten yards of rag carpet; Mrs. John W. Cole, Watertown. $2. Best three varieties of woolen yarn; Simeon Ford, Watertown. (Discre tionary) $2. * See Vol. II. Transactions, page 63, NEEDLE, SHELL AND WAX WORK.--No. OF ENTRIES, 67. Judges-DENNISON WORTHINGTON, Summit; Mrs. E. W. EDGERTON, Best Ottoman cover; Miss Ellen M. Hayes, Palmyra. $1. Best crochet work; Miss Pagnin, Watertown. $1. Best ornamental shell work; Miss Marianne Dillon, Fitchburgh. $1. Best specimen of wax flowers; Fred. Warner, Watertown. $1. The judges report that the quality, variety and quantity of articles submitted to their inspection, furnished gratifying evidences of industry and skill on the part of the exhibitors; and gave to them an arduous, though pleasing duty, in selecting those deserving of the premiums. The fine display of handicraft in this department gives assurance that, while the soil has been cultivated and invited to yield its valuable products, the fair hands of wives and daughters have been usefully engaged in furnishing the house with the comforts and elegancies of refined life. FLOWERS.-No. OF ENTRIES, 33. Judges-THOMAS HISLOP, Milwaukee; Mrs. D. WORTHINGTON, Summit; Mrs. JOHN W. COLE, Watertown. Best collection of house plants; Mrs. John W. Cole, Watertown. $2. Second best collection of house plants; Mrs. E. A. Gilman, Watertown. |