The committee reg et that in so large a Commonwealth and such an extensive field for competition, there were not more applicants, although it was to have been expected that one or two seasons would elapse before Farmers would feel sufficient emulation to accurately survey and measure an entire crop for so small a premium as is awarded. The written statements of competitors are very satisfactory for first reports, many of them being full and specific upon every point, except it be the net cost per bushel or per acre. We have no doult this defect will be corrected hereafter. The committee deem the rules of the Society, by most of the competitors, to have been complied with, and we find no difficulty in making our awards. After a careful examination and comparison of the different statements and samples which are herewith submitted to the Society for examination and distribution, the committee award as follows: George Walker, first premium for best five acres of corn.. And a complimentary premium for the same, of....... John A. M'Crea, for second best five acres of corn... John B. Bitzer, first premium for corn on one acre. Reuben Weidler, first premium for one acre wheat... John Wilkinson, first premium on carrots on one acre.... And a complimentary premium for the same.... $15 00 50 00 5 00 8 00 8.00 8. 00 20 00 A. O. HEISTER, JACOB FRANTZ. L WOODBOURNE, SUSQUEHANNA Co., PA., October 14, 1852. The subscribers have this day examined the corn raised by Mr. George Walker, on his farm at this place. We measured carefully with a Surveyor's chain, one square acre of the field, embracing an average of the field. We then counted the hills of corn in each outside row, and found one hundred and twenty-eight hills long by thirty-three wide. We then selected an average row, and beginning on one side, husked twenty-six hills, which we shelled and measured, and there was a little over a full bushel. The corn was not dry, and probably will shrink from one-fourth to one-third. The present amount would be one hundred and sixty bushels of shelled cornone hundred and twenty bushels of dry merchantable corn. WM. JESSUP, WM. D. COPE, A. CHAMBERLIN. George Walker's Mode of Cultivation. I ploughed five acres of green sward for corn in the beginning of May, 1852, and hauled one hundred loads of manure on the same After the manure was spread, the ground was well harrowed and planted the last of May, in rows three and one-half feet apart, in rows running east and west, from three to five graius in the hill. Two bushels of lime, mixed with three bushels of plaster, was applied to said five acres of corn very soon after it came up. A plough did not enter the field after the corn was planted. The ground was kept loose and mellow, and the grass and weeds subdued by the use of the cultivator, making but little use of the hand hoe. A specimen of the corn was exhibited at the State Fair at Lancaster, it being of the white flint species, eight rowed, small cob, and long ears, more than one foot in length. In addition to the enormous yield of one hundred and sixty bushels of shelled corn to the acre, the same field of five acres produced twenty tons of superior pumpkins, some of which weighed more than forty-one pounds. Said field is situated on one of the highest hills in Susquehanna county, being an oak, pine, beech and sugar maple ridge; soil a sandy loam. All of which is respectfully submitted, GEORGE WALKER. I, E. Burkholder, of West Ear! township, Lancaster county, certify that I measured with compass and chain, five acres of land* put into corn, on the farm of John B. Bitzer, in West Earl township, Lancaster county, and the same land off of which Mr. Bitzer took off a crop of corn for exhibition for premium at the Pennsylvania Agricultural State Fair, and that the same was correctly measured. Witness my hand, this 15th of October, 1852. E. BURKHOLDER. John B. Bitzer's Mode of Cultivation. We, the subscribers, do hereby certify that the above five acres of land were lightly manured before it was ploughed, and twice harrowed before the corn was planted, and was checkered and planted on the 18th and 19th days of May, with hoes. Three grains were put to the hill, and the hills three and one-half feet apart. The land was rolled immediately after it was planted, and after it was grown out of the ground about three or four inches high, it was twice cultivated with a small shovel harrow, crossways, &c.; and also, twice ploughed with the cultivator. And further certify, that the present is Diagram omitted. the third crop of corn raised in due successive years or seasons on the said The field from which the above five acres are surveyed five acres of land. and laid off, containing about fourteen or fifteen acres. Witness our hands, this 16th day of October, 1852. JOHN H. OBERHOLTZER, LEVI BARD, SAMUEL BURKHOLDER, HENRY STONER, CHRISTIAN OBERHOLTZER, H. H. OBERHOLTZER, We, the subscribers, do hereby certify that John B. Bitzer, of West Earl township, Lancaster county, practical Farmer, has raised on the above five. acres of land, this season, four hundred and twenty-eight bushels of corn. And further, do certify that the same corn was measured in our presence, truly and correctly. Witness our hands, this 16th day of October, 1852. ADAM SANDOE, JOHN R. BITZER, SAMUEL BURGHOLDER. I, John Harlingar, of West Earl township, certify that I husked four acres of the above five acres, by the acre, for John B. Bitzer; and that 1 am now forty-two years of age, and during which time, I husked a great deal of corn, but never met any in my life equal to the above; produced more corn to the acre than any I have ever seen Witness my hand, this 16th of October, 1852. JOHN HARLINGAR. We, the subscribers, do hereby certify, that John B. Bitzer has raised this season a better and far heavier crop of corn on his farm in West Earl township, Lancaster county, than we have ever seen raised in the county of Lancaster. Witness our hands this 16th day of October, 1852. JOHN SHEAFFER, CHRISTIAN OBERHOLTZER, JOHN HOBENHOLTZER, LEVI BARD, SAMUEL BURGHOLDER, I, E. Burkholder, of West Earl township, Lancaster county, certify that I measured with compass and chain, one acre of land* put into corn, on the farm of John B. Bitzer, of West Earl township, Lancaster county, and the same land off of which Mr. Bitzer took off a crop of corn for exhibition for premium at the Pennsylvania Agricultural State fair, and that the same was correctly measured. Witness my hand this 15th day of October, 1852. E. BURKHOLDER. John R. Bitzer's Mode of Cultivation. We, the subscribers, do hereby certify that the above one acre of land was lightly manured before it was ploughed, twice harrowed before the corn was planted, and was checkered and planted with hoes on the 18th and 19th of May, 1852. Three grains were put to the hill; each hill three and one-half feet apart. The land was rolled immediately after it was planted; and after it was grown out of the ground about three or four inches high, it was twice cultivated with a small shovel harrow, crossways, &c.; and also twice ploughed with the cultivator. And further certify, that the present is the third crop of corn raised in due successive years or seasons on the said one acre of land. The field from which the above one acre is surveyed and laid off, contains about fourteen or fifteen acres of land. Witness our hands this 16th day of October, 1852. JOHN H. OBERHOLTZER, LEVI BARD, SAMUEL BURKHOLDER, HENRY STONER, CHRISTIAN OBERHOLTZER, H. H. OBERHOLTZER, JOHN R. BITZER, SAMUEL BURGHOLDER, We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that John B. Bitzer, of West Earl township, Lancaster county, practical farmer, has raised off of one acre of land this season, ninety-six and three-fourths bushels of shelled corn. And further, do certify that the same corn was measured in our presence truly and correctly. Witness our hands this 16th day of October, 1852. JOHN R. BITZER, SAMUEL BURGHOLDER, 'Diagram omitted. James A. M'Crea's Mode of Cultivation. The undersigned respectfully presents the accompanying certificates of the measurement of the land and its product in corn, in competition for the premium offered by the Agricultural Society of the State of Pennsylvania. In this section of our State such a crop is exceedingly beyond the average, and elicited warm encomiums from all who had an opportunity of seeing its luxuriant growth. The mode of cultivation, was that usually employed in this county, viz: A sod of more than twenty years growth was broken up in March, harrowed thoroughly, then hoe-harrowed and furrowed out for planting, four and three and one-half feet. The corn was planted the first week in May, about twothirds with Dutton, and the remainder with mixed variety. My neighbor farmers were of opinion that if the mixed variety alone had been planted, the yield would have been materially increased; of this, however, I am not satisfied. The irregular outline of the field rendered it impracticable to institute a comparison with that accuracy which should always accompany Agricultural experiments to entitle them to confidence. A given bulk of the mixed variety was found to shell off about four per cent. more by measure, and eight per cent. less by weight, than the Dutton. The Dutton corn was selected with reference to its character for maturing early, as the desire was to bring the field back into grass in the shortest possible time. The unusual character of the autumn, however, defeated this object, and also showed no difference in favor of the Dutton over the mixed variety, on the score of earlier maturity. I may also note that the fodder was very rank over the entire field, much of it from fifteen to sixteen feet high, and none under twelve feet. The Dutton corn with us is not often more than nine or ten feet high. There was no manure employed, and the rapid growth of the crop did not permit it to be stirred more than twice with the cultivator. JAMES A. M'CREA ARDENHEIM FARM, Whitemarsh township, } MONTGOMERY Co., January 6, 1853. I hereby certify that I superintended harvesting and measuring the corn crop grown upon eleven acres and twenty-four perches, on the farm of Dr. James A. M'Crea, in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, and that said crop was one thousand and twenty-eight bushels of shelled corn. JOSEPH NEIMAN. |