SECRETARY'S REPORT. 89 



Crop number five in the field D, 

 Crop number six in the field E, 

 Crop number one in the fiidd F, 

 and so on, changing; each year until the seventh, when crop number 

 one comes back to field A, and the whole will then be in aj^^oodstate 

 of fertility, and free from weeds. The above system has been proved 

 to be capable of restoring old land, and extirpating all weeds. 



In order to render the thing more simple and easy of comprehen- 

 sion, I shall suppose myself to be again obliged to take a worn-out 

 farm in the autumn of 1849. The first thing that I should do 

 would be to divide the land into six fields, by proper fences, to pre- 

 vent the cattle "-oino: from one field to the otiier; and I would then 

 take for field A, that which appeared best for green ci-ops or root 

 crops; I would collect all the manure which I could find in or out 

 of the barns, I would take up tlie flooring of the cow-house, stable 

 and piggery, and I would take out as much of the soil underneath 

 as I could iret; for this soil is the essence of manure, one load of it 

 being as good as four or five loads of common dung. The portion 

 thus removed ought to be replaced by an equal quantity of ordinary 

 soil, or, if it be possible, of bog earth, which might be removed 

 when necessary afterwards. 



The dung and other manure thus collected should be placed on 

 the field A in September, or the beginning of October, spread with 

 care, (t\^ far as it will go.) and covered up in a shallow furrow. 

 Manure aids the decomposition of straw and the weeds of the soil, 

 and frees it from these plants, which thus help to keep tlie solul)le 

 portion of the manure until its juices become necessary for the crops 

 of the succeeding years. Tlie greater variety there is in tlie crops 

 of this field, the better it will be, provided the soil is suitable for 

 them. Thus this field ought, as nearly as possible, to look like a 

 kitchen garden. 



Under the actual circumstances of the country, I would particu- 

 larly call the attention of farmers to the cultivation of the carrot as 

 being one well adapted to our soil and climate. The carrot has fewer 

 enemies than any other plant that I know : the best sort for field 

 culture is the red Altringham, and the method of cultivating it is 

 as follows : 



Culture of the Carrot. The land which has been manured 

 in the full, as above described, ought to be plowed at least twice in 

 the spring, the one furrow across the other, and both as deep as 

 possible. It is then to be harrowed until it is propeily mellow. 

 You then make with the plow two furrows, distant two feet, or two 

 feet three inches from each other, taking care to raise the soil as 

 much as possible between each. You pass the roller over this 

 plowed portion, and then with the corner of a hoe, make a small 

 furrow or drill along the top of the rows; drop the seed into this 

 furrow, and pass the roller over it again ; this last operation will 

 cover the seed sufliciently. 



