243 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



In the spring of 1856, I lianled on 20 loads of long manure, 

 and spread and ploughed as above with plaster, and harrowed 

 without the top-dressing, and planted about the 20th of May, 

 with Billings's planter. The seed proved defective, and I planted 

 the second time, to the injury of the crop. I hoed three times, 

 the third was simply going over the field and cutting 

 the weeds, leaving the ground as level as possible. In Septem- 

 ber, I cut and stacked my corn, putting in each what equal- 

 led a corn basket of ears to a stack. About the loth of October, 

 I commenced harvesting, and after picking more than half the 

 field, and some of the heaviest corn in it, I measured off one 

 acre at the north-east corner, having the shade of one large 

 hickory and one apple tree, which acre contained 148 stacks, 

 from which we picked 82 baskets of husked corn. I have now 

 filled the basket out of my crib, the weight of which was 92 lbs. 

 The yield of shelled corn was 77 lbs., which gives 112|2 bushels. 

 Had I selected the acre out of the shade, I should have increased 

 the quantity. For reasons given, I did not think of taking the 

 measure of an acre in the field, till it was too late to lay off one 

 acre of the best corn. 



The farmers here say that my farming don't pay ! Let us 

 estimate the expense of that acre of corn : — 



Manure and plaster, carting and spreading, 

 Ploughing, harrowing, planting and hoeing. 

 Harvesting, ..... 



Interest on land, .... 



Cost of crop, 

 100 bushels corn, at 90 cts., 



2 tons fodder, at 86 per ton, 

 Lnprovevent of land, . . . . , 



Profit, . . $66 00 



By the above statement, you will see my mode of farming for 

 fifteen years. I plant my ground two years in succession, then 

 sow to wlieat or barley and stock down to grass and mow from 

 four to eight years. During the fifteen years which I have 

 practised the present mode of farming, I have more than trebled 

 the produce of my farm. 



South Deerfield, 1856. 



