26 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Taluable food. It is believed that an acre of good land, well 

 cultivated, will yield twenty-five tons of green fodder, or seven 

 tons of dry. Every year the culture of this article is extending 

 itself. We would observe, that the sweet corn furnishes the 

 most profitable fodder ; not so large and heavy as some other 

 kinds, but more tender and nutritious, and so agreeable to cattle 

 that they eat it with little waste. 



It would require too much space to detail the numerous in- 

 stances of reclaiming bogs and meadows, that deserve to be 

 mentioned. In every direction we see this work going on, from 

 email lots to acres ; and in every case, the particulars of which 

 have come to our notice, with decided profit. One farmer has 

 reclaimed and improved ten acres, within two years, at an ex- 

 pense of $1,500, and this year has cut thirty tons of good hay. 

 This is an illustration, on a somewhat large scale, of what is 

 done in hundreds of instances on a smaller scale. Several indi- 

 viduals have observed to us, that they had just discovered they 

 had hitherto been neglecting the most valuable part of their 

 farms.* 



At the commencement of the season, the prospects of farming 

 were very promising — but the promise was not realized. The 

 crop of hay was considerably less than usual. In most places 

 potatoes yielded a fair crop, of good quality and tolerable amount. 

 The rot was less extensive than for several years past. We look 

 with satisfaction upon the efforts of farmers to multiply and 

 prove new varieties. Experience shows that the tendency of all 

 sorts of potatoes is to degenerate in quality by long cultivation. 

 Hence the necessity of frequent change of seed and change of 

 locality. The early frosts damaged the corn to a large extent, 

 and proved a serious loss in this most important crop. 



♦We cannot help referring particularly to the improvements effected by Capt. Asa 

 Pickering, of Bellinghara. Tliis gentleman's valuable farm was, sixteen years ago, 

 •wholly uncultivated, covered with bushes and bogs. By almost incredible labor, 

 ■with his own hands, he has made a beautiful and profitable farm — beginning the 

 enterprise after his fiitieth year. Using the hand hoe, he turned over five or six 

 acres of bogs and hassocks, then carted in gravel and manure. These mowing fields 

 are now in admirable order. He has also built a large covei-ed diain across his farm, 

 besides almost fabulous quantities of stone wall. This labor has been well directed, 

 and is every way creditable to Mr. P.'s ability and judgment. He is still in a vigor- 

 ous old age, and in walking over liis farm, and showing, with honest pride, his 

 extensive improvements, can without difficulty tire out much younger men. 



