ROOT CROPS. 277 



who can accumulate the largest heap of manure can usually 

 accomplish this ; — but it is to raise the best crops, with the best 

 economy, in such a way as can be imitated. 



Tlie committee are surprised to find so few claimants for the 

 liberal premiums oflercd for root culture, in a county where 

 ihey know so many fine crops are raised, and where the lands 

 can be in no other way so profitably cultivated. The committee 

 know of many neighborhoods, where half a dozen acres under 

 judicious root culture, yield a better profit than one hundred 

 acres under ordinary farm culture. But so it is, and will con- 

 tinue to be ; what has been done by others will be repeated. 



For onions, but one claim Avas presented, — this by George 

 W. Adams, of Newbury. Mr. Adams grew on half an acre of 

 land, 328} bushels, weighing 50 lbs. to the bushel. This, the ' 

 committee consider a good crop, and well entitled to the pre- 

 mium. 



The committee have learned from some of the successful cul- 

 tivators of the onion crop in Dan vers, that they find much benefit 

 in ploughing their land in autumn, turning in the manure at 

 the same time. The side-hill plough is generally used by them. 

 We know one farmer who treated his land as above mentioned, 

 and raised 1,500 bushels on two and a half acres the present 

 season. He thinks he gained twenty-five per cent, in his crop 

 by the operation. 



For carrots, there was only one claim. Mr. Brown, of Mar- 

 blehead, raised on half an acre 16 tons and 1,475 lbs. This the 

 committee consider a very good crop, and worthy of the premium 

 of ten dollars. 



J. ^Y. Proctor, Chairman. 



Statement of George W. Adams. 



Onions. — The half acre of land where the crop of onions which 

 I entered for premium grew, was cultivated as follows : An 

 acre, of which this is one-half, was ploughed in the spring of 

 1853, and planted to corn that year and the next, manured in 

 the hill only, the first year ; the next, a moderate dressing was 

 ploughed in pretty deep, and a small shovelful of compost in the 

 hill. 



The yield of corn was fair. In the spring of 1855, about 



