322 [Sekate 



randum. In 1839, my estimates made in this way, proved on weigh- 

 ing the hay the next spring, to have over rated the quantity, about 

 one ton in forty; in 1840, I under rated one ton in thirty-four; last 

 year I succeeded still better. I have therefore some confidence that 

 my estimates the present season are not very far from correct. In 

 estimating the value of produce, wheat was valued at eight shillings^ 

 oats at thirty-five cts., hay at seven dollars, and potatoes assorted at 

 twenty cts., the market prices at the time of harvest; and other pro- 

 duce in proportion. 



By an examination of the preceding table, it will be seen that some 

 of the crops afforded a very handsome profit, while others did little 

 more than to merely " come out even." But such wide differences 

 cannot have existed without the agency of special causes adapted to 

 produce such results. And hence the crops of both these classes and 

 the circumstances attending, require a passing notice. 



The oats in field JVo. 3, lot B. were a good crop. The yield was 

 large, being over 60 bushels to the acre, while the expenses of culti- 

 vation were only medium. . The result was a fair profit of some $12 

 to the acre. The circumstances which are supposed to have had a 

 favorable effect in the production of this crop, are set forth in a state- 

 ment already submitted to the Society, respecting a single acre select- 

 ed from this field and presented for premium, and they need not be 

 repeated here. 



JVo. 5, Lot B. was until the present season a part of the same field 

 with No. 3. The quality and condition of the soil in the two fields 

 are therefore similar, as also the mode and expense of cultivation. 

 The time of sowing, however, was not the same, No. 5 being sowed 

 12 days later than No. 3, which was all that too late. Besides, the 

 seed was not sown so evenly in No. 5, by reason of a strong and gus- 

 ty wind, and the variety of oats was not exactly the same, though 

 very nearly similar. The yield in this field was, however, only 44 

 bushels, or a little more than two-thirds as much as in the other; while 

 the nett profit was less than half as much, or $5. 77. For this diffe- 

 rence I know no other reasons than those already mentioned. 

 Doubtless the small difference in the variety of oats had a trifling in- 

 fluence on the result, and the unequal distribution of the seed in one 

 case, still more; but probably the difference in the times of sowing 

 was a more efficient cause of disparity in the results, than both the 

 others- Here then is at least 50 per cent of the nett profit which 

 might have been realized, absolutely lost by mismanagement, by sim- 

 ply being a little behind hand. 



The oats in field JVo. 2, lot D. was also a greensward crop. The 

 sod was composed of red top and timothy; it was seeded with the 

 latter some five years since, which had now, to considerable extent, 

 " run out." The soil of this field \va.s naturally good; in this respect 

 it was not inferior to that of any other field on my farm. But the 

 management in the previous cultivation had not all been the best. 

 One essential error consisted in using no clover in seeding down. Be- 

 sides, there must have been some others of considerable importance in 

 their effect upon the soil, otherwise the timothy would not so soon, 



