246 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



planted, with Randall & Jones's double corn-planter, on the 

 19th of May. At the first hoeing I went through the field both 

 ways, with a light, sharp harrow, of nine teeth. Immediately 

 after this hoeing, I went through one way with the horse-hoe — and 

 with the corn-planter, planted beans midway between the hills- 

 When the beans were up, I went through again with the horse- 

 hoe, following with the hand-hoe. After haying, I went through 

 the field again with the horse-hoe, thus destroying all weeds, 

 and leaving the surface light and level. 



Expense of cultivating : — 



First ploughing, 



12 loads of manure, ..... 



Second ploughing, 



15 loads of manure, ..... 

 Third ploughing, . . . . 



Fourth ploughing, 



Seed, 37 cts., marking and planting, 75 cts.. 



First hoeing, • 



Second hoeing, ...... 



Third hoeing, 



(One-half, at least, of the last two hoeings should 

 be charged to the beans.) 

 Cutting and securing stalks, 

 Harvesting corn, ...... 



$85 62 



You can tell what I raised, and perhaps the benefit the labor 

 and manure will be to the after crops. 



There is a difference of opinion and practice among our far- 

 mers as to the best way of securing the corn crop. Some hold 

 to the old way of cutting stalks ; some think it better to cut at 

 the root and stook, and others think that all should stand still 

 till it is fit to harvest. 



I am trying a hundred hills in each of the above ways, and if 

 desired, can give you, at some future time, the result of the 

 trial.* 



* Mr. Carter, under date of December 20th, gives the result as follows : — 

 Each of the three lots contained four rows, of twenty-four hills each ; in all, 

 ninety-sLx hills. Lot No. 1 was cut at the ground, and stocked, September 



