No. 63.J 305 



they generally are, most of them furnish some hints worthy of consi- 

 deration: and a few of them afford practical illustration highly satis- 

 factory, of certain principles relating to the science of agriculture 

 which are not now generally understood, or if understood, not gene- 

 rally adopted. Two of these papers from the pen of J. Battey — one 

 on the cultivation of the beet, and one on that of oats, carry out so 

 fully the object of the society, and withal possess so much interest, 

 that we feel disposed to give them publicity; and we can but hope 

 that from his example, such as may hereafter enter the list of com- 

 petitors for such premiums, will the better understand their duty, and 

 the more faithfully perform it. His " statement" respecting the cul- 

 tivation of his farm will also be found among the papers hereto an- 

 nexed. JoNA. Battey, ] 



J. H. Holt, [ Publishing Com- 

 M. K. Platt, [ mittee. 



G. W. Palmer, J 



MANGEL WURZEL.— Mr. Battey's Statement. 



To Wm. Ricketson, David R. Parsons, and Chancellor Stearns, 

 Committee chosen by the Executive Committee of the Clinton 

 County Agricultural Society, to award its premiums on field crops: 



The following is m)' " statement" respecting a crop of Mangel 

 Wurzel, or field beets, which I have laised this season, and which 

 I hereby respectfully present for your consideration in awarding the 

 Society's premiums on that crop. 



The patch of ground on which they grew was, when I came in 

 possession, in the spring of 1839, one of the most forbidding por- 

 tions of my farm — a small field or yard, in one corner of the lot, 

 which appeared to have been marked out by the rule of rejection — 

 being separated by ' the garden' on one side and a hog pasture on the 

 other, from the rest of the farm. 



The soil, which was naturally a stiff clay, wore the appearance 

 of having been rendered still more compact and of course unpro- 

 ductive, by the " drilling system;" which allows of repeated crop- 

 ping with scanty manuring; of working the land when wet; of half 

 plowing, half seeding and half hoeing; and of digging out from 

 among the snow and matted weeds, a few small turneps, or a few 

 watery, half grown potatoes, and then leaving the soil at the mercy 

 of chance, till another spring — again to try the strength of another 

 plow-beam — again to become the ' resting place' of a few more seed 

 potatoes, or turnep seeds, or cabbage plants — and so on. 



Immediately I determined to reclaim it, or at least to make an ef- 

 fort. I firstly proceeded to take away the old fence, and introduced 

 it into membership with that favored family, the "kitchen garden;" 

 for I have observed that even "• old worn out fields" are not insen- 

 sible of favors conferred; but often, on receiving inci eased attention, 

 their very countenances indicate fresh hopes. 



I then spread on and immediately plowed under, partially air 



[Senate No. 63.J O* 



