14 MASSACHUSETTS ACxRlCULTURE. 



sand has ever stood on the leeward side of a heap of kelp 

 three or four days after it has been brought together. No 

 farmer acquainted with the subject of manures can witness the 

 rapid decay and consequent odor of this article, without con- 

 viction that the published results of Marblehead farms are 

 possible. This, then, will be presumed to be conceded. And 

 when ttie due amount of skill in applying the manures, and 

 adapting the crops to both soils and manures is brought into 

 requisition, then, in the words of Thomson, " laborious man 

 has done his part," and the soil will not be ungrateful. 



Mr. Brown has some thirtj-nve acres of land under the hoe 

 and plough. His help is Irish, altogether. He has ten or 

 twelve men through the summer, though now (19th October) 

 only nine, Mr. B. keeps a blacksmith to do the work of the farm, 

 an arrangement almost indispensable, as his place is a mile and 

 a half from the town. Mr. B, boards his men, and pays from 

 ninety to one hundred and thirty dollars per year for labor ; no 

 one but the blacksmith receiving more. Before his present 

 arrangement of the blacksmith's shop upon the farm, the black- 

 smith's bill amounted to about one hundred and fifty dollars 

 per year. Sixteen cows are generally kept upon the farm, 

 though at this time but twelve. No butter is made on the 

 farm, or cheese, milk being more profitable than either. 



As Mr. Brown makes neither butter nor cheese, so he raises no 

 Indian corn. This arrangement affords a great amount of time 

 to devote to other crops, and among these, onions take the lead. 

 It may as well be said once for all, that, as before stated, no man 

 this year offers his farm for premium, and as Mr. B. in particu- 

 lar, oifers nothing whatever for premium, so perfect accuracy 

 is not expected, either in regard to the measure of land or the 

 weight and measure of the crops. Statements will therefore 

 be made with such accuracy only as the visitor's own judgment, 

 aided by the owner's knowledge, will afford. 



Mr. Brown had eight acres of land in onions ; the largest lot 

 containing about three and a half acres. This lot is in the 

 under-drained field noticed in the Transactions of the Society 

 for 1854. A portion of this lot, that part which before under- 

 draining, was covered with stagnant water much of tjie year, 

 say from one-fourth to one-half an acre, has now upon it the great- 

 est yield of onions, beyond all controversy, ever raised in the 



