286 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the manure and consequently to reduce the strength of the 

 soil. 



The great question for farmers is manure ; plenty of ma- 

 nure will produce good crops of all kinds, and nothing else 

 will. 



Farmers in this section are getting more in the way of 

 raising roots to feed on the farm since the way is opened for 

 selling milk, and this tends to improve and increase the ma- 

 nure heap. 



My opinion has been for some years, and I think that the 

 opinion is gaining ground in this vicinity, that we can buy 

 our grain cheaper than we can raise it. 



Oats are raised mostly as a crop to seed down with and not 

 so much for the profit of the crop. My practice is to seed 

 down with oats and grass seed, and mow the oats for hay be- 

 fore ripening to avoid the absorbing of the strength of the 

 manure or soil in ripening the seed, and also the smothering 

 of the grass by lodging if the ground is rich. 



Tlie most important root crop raised in this vicinity is what 

 we call Rock Turnip, the white variety. The most reliable 

 seed we can get is raised by Messrs. C. B. and R. Phelps, of 

 Colebrook. They are valuable for feeding or for family use. 



Thomas A. Mead, Greenwich. 



Wheat is raised by a majority of our farmers in quantity 

 sufficient to supply them with bread ; average yield 22 or 23 

 bushels per acre. Ground thoroughly prepared, and about 

 ten thirty-bushel loads of fine manure put to the acre. Time 

 of sowing, middle of September. 



Rye only raised for home consumption : yield, 18 bushels 

 per acre. 



The yield of oats is very uncertain, varying from 20 to 80 

 bushels per acre, as they are much affected by the season. 



Barley, none. Buckwheat, very little. 



Corn is our most reliable crop. When the ground is well 

 prepared and the tillage good it varies but little in yield from 



