No. 63.J 61 



Oats. — Mr. Phelps^ statement. 



In obedience to the rules, regulations, and requirements of the 

 New-York State Agricultural Society, and for the benefit of all who 

 are engaged in agricultural pursuits, I make the following state- 

 ment : 



On the 10th of May, 1842, I had 30 loads of manure drawn upon 

 one acre of land, and spread it evenly, or nearly so, and on the 16th 

 day of same month, I plowed the acre well, and harrowed it tho- 

 roughly, and sowed five bushels oats on said acre, and dragged them 

 in. The whole time of plowing and harrowing, was two days; two 

 days harvesting and securing said crop of oats, and four days thresh- 

 ing, cleaning up, and measuring the same; producing therefrom, o?t,e 

 hundred and two bushels of first quality merchantable oats. 



In the same field, I sowed one and a half acres to oats, without 

 manuring. I took full as much pains plowing, harrowing, and se- 

 curing the grain from this one and a half acres, as I did on the said 

 acre. I sowed on this piece, four and a half bushels, and it pro- 

 duced me but eighty-five and a half bushels; clearly showing to my 

 mind, that the greatest benefits always arise from a liberal use of 

 manure, if put on the ground in a proper state of fermentation, and 

 especial care taken to distribute it over the surface evenly. 



Oats. — Mr. RusselVs statement. 



The soil is what is generally termed a clay loam; has been in po- 

 tatoes for the last five years, with the exception of one year, when 

 it was sown to oats; has had a top dressing of about fifteen loads of 

 manure, well rotted, per year, except this season. None the pre- 

 sent year. Sowed about the 25th of April, two bushels and three 

 pecks of seed, common oats. Land plowed once, and harrowed 

 ■\vith a square harrow, and crossed. Grain reaped between the 1st 

 and 10th of August, yielding fifty-eight dozen and six sheaves of 

 oats. Threshed about twentieth of September, producing by actual 

 measurement, ninety-seven bushels and four quarts, that being the 

 quantity grown upon, and the product of one acre. The expense of 

 cultivation is as follows: 



One day's work plowing, sowing and harrowing,. . $2 00 



Half day harrowing and sowing, 1 00 



Seed, 21 bushels, 1 03 



Reaping, raking and binding, and carting to barn, 



4 days, 3 00 



Half day for team, 1 00 



$8 03 



Oats — Mr. Sheffer'^s Statement. 



The soil on which my oat crop was grown, is Genesee flats, a dark 

 clay loam. The land had lain to meadow fourteen years previous to 

 1840; in the fall of 1840, it was plowed; in the spring following. 



