14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is proved that beets grown on our soil 5'ield well with 

 careful cultivation, and are rich in sugar; but each manu- 

 factory must draw its supplies from its immediate vicinit}-. 



The Franldin Works paid six dollars per ton of roots 

 (2,240 pounds), and returned one ton of pulp for each five 

 tons of roots. At this rate but four thousand tons of roots 

 were offered, — not more than one-quarter of the quantity 

 necessary to make a successful season. In order to make a 

 profit on the crop and keep up the fertility of the land, it 

 appears that the beets must be raised in the vicinity of the 

 works, so that the cost of transportation on the roots may be 

 saved, and the exchange of pulp readily made. 



The cultivation of the various root-crops that have been 

 grown to assist winter feeding will be very much modified 

 next year by the manifest determination of the farmers to 

 try the system of preserving green crops in silos. It will 

 then be settled, by comparison of experience, which is the 

 more excellent way. 



APPLES. 



The apple-orchards of the Commonwealth produced a crop 

 so enormous the last year, that farmers were confounded by 

 the immense quantity of fruit that they could not gather, 

 barrel, nor sell. Great quantities were sold at low prices, 

 and several hundred thousand barrels shipped to England ; 

 much cider was made, and a vast amount of the fruit fed to 

 stock. 



All animals are fond of apples ; but it has long been a ques- 

 tion among farmers if they were a proper food for milch 

 cows, much being said on both sides. 



The evidence this year seems to prove that cows fed with 

 apples and concentrated food^ as meal and bran, have done 

 well. 



The value of apples as food is stated by Dr. James R. 

 Nichols, an eminent authority, as follows : — 



Huhbardstons. 



Water 88.57 



Albuminoids, pectose gum, and sugar . . 11.27 

 Ash 16 



100.00 



