No. 63.J ^ 327 



twice as much for fodder as that of the lighter seeding, and is much 

 less apt to lodge or rust. Another is, that it springs up and immedi- 

 ately covers the earth with a mantle of dense foliage, by reason of 

 which the growth of weeds is almost entirely prevented. 



I am aware that this experiment does not prove that four bushels 

 to the acre is precisely the right quantity, but, it does prove what it 

 attempted to prove, that heavy seeding is better than light seeding, 

 and that for strong land in good condition, four bushels is at least 

 better than two. 



The profit allowed in the foregoing synopsis is correct as relates to 

 the field, but to find the nett value of the crop, the expense for grass 

 seed must be deducted, which would leave $16,88 as the nelt value 

 of the crop of oats, or $5.63 per acre. Had I sowed my common 

 variety of oats in this field instead of the potatoe oats, the value of 

 the crop would have been $76.88 instead of $55.25, leaving a profit 

 of $38.51, and the amount of the crop 188 bushels, or 62| bushels 

 to the acre on an average. 



The crop was materially injured by the thistles, and the expense of 

 harvesting considerably increased by the same means. But the inju- 

 ry from this source was far less than if the quantity of seed used had 

 been much smaller, and the mode of cultivation less thorough. As 

 it was, the oats sprang up and covered the ground so soon, and con- 

 tinued to grow so rapidly, that the thistles had altogether a hard time 

 in getting started, and having so much the disadvantage they were 

 kept in the " back ground," or rather in the " shade" all the way up, 

 or until the oats had attained their full height, when a small portion 

 of the thistles succeeded in peeping out their heads. Had it not 

 been for the prevalence of this pest in the soil, and my own misfor- 

 tune in obtaining that kind of oats, I have no doubt I might have 

 realized 75 bushels or more to the acre. And 1 am equally certain 

 that had it been seeded at the usual rate, and had the crop been got in 

 in the usual" half way" method, the crop would have proved a fail- 

 ure. A neifjhbor of mine — whose manao-ement is somewhat differ- 

 ent — and who could but express his wonder and surprise when I was 

 getting in this crop at so much " needless and useless expense," as 

 he considered it, afterwards acknowledged, frankly and voluntarily, 

 to its good eflfect, saying that he never saw so fine a field of oats 

 growing, as they were. Coming from such a source,! accepted this 

 as rather a high compliment to the superiority of my system. 



The crop of wheat on field No. 1, lot C. affords a practical illus- 

 tration of the advantages of keeping farm accounts. The yield was 

 fair, being 15 bushels to the acre, and yet the nett profit does not ex- 

 ceed 37 cents to the acre. 



This field was broken up last year, a moderate dressing of half 

 rotten straw from piles left two years before, (not foddered out,) with 

 some twelve or fifteen loads strawy horse stable manure, being turned 

 under, and planted with corn. It had been mowed for several years, 

 or until the soil had become much reduced, the crop of hay being 

 small. The sod from its age, and the materials of which it was com- 

 posed, was especiallysolid and tough, and by no means adapted to 



