226 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



began sucli an experinnent, but failed to complete it. I sowed an 

 orchard to winter rye in autumn. Early in May of the following 

 year a heavy crop of fodder was cut and fed green. Then the 

 land was plowed and manured, and sowed to oats. These were as 

 heavy as could stand; and the crop was in bloom and fit to cut 

 early in July, Again the ground was turned over, again manured, 

 and sown with barley. The barley also made a full crop, and was 

 cut about the middle of September, and in season to be out of the 

 way of picking a fine yield of winter apples. I had then the whole 

 of October and November in which to start the round again by 

 sowing rye, but as I failed to do so I suppose I must admit that 

 my farm was a little too large. 



I told you in the outset, that in my opinion, farming in New 

 England is a much better business than many have been inclined 

 to believe. Except in the single product of milk, sold direct from 

 the stable, we seem to have less competition among ourselves than 

 is found in any other business that is unguarded by combinations 

 for mutual protection. We have the best markets in the world 

 almost at our very doors; and it has been shown, over and over 

 again, that an acre of good well-tilled land here, will produce as 

 bountifully as will an acre of good land at the West, or anywhere 

 else, while the crop, when grown, will sell for a good deal more 

 money. 



The average yield of wheat in all the States of the Union is less 

 than fourteen bushels per acre. In the thirty principal wheat- 

 growing States and Territories it is but thirteen bushels; yet your 

 own State of Connecticut stands only second on the list with her 

 nineteen bushels per acre, while the other New England States 

 raise on the average from fifteen to sixteen bushels. I have 

 myself grown thirty-nine bushels of the choicest wheat per acre, 

 weighing up to the standard of sixty pounds per bushel, and as 

 Professor Brewer has already told you, the waste product, in the 

 form of straw from such a crop, is worth more in the nearest vil- 

 lage than the western farmer can get for his whole crop, including 

 both straw and grain. I know it may be said that the western 

 farmer has richer land and larger fields; but we have plenty of 

 room for larger fields here, and our best farmers are clearing away 

 their fences, and are fitting their land and adapting it to the same 

 kind of tools the prairie farmers are using; and we have the facil 



