28 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



price of these roots, would afford the handsome return of six 

 hundred dollars. 



If we add to the actual yield of carrots the value of the nur- 

 sery trees grown upon the same soil, we shall readily under- 

 stand the propriety of such heavy manuring and frequent plough- 

 ing as this small plot of ground has received. We shall learn 

 too, again, the often disregarded fact, that a liberal outlay alone 

 insures, under ordinary circumstances, a large return. 



J. M. Merrick. 

 C. C. Sewall. 



PLYMOUTH. 



From the Report of the Supervisor. 



Two entries were regularly made in 1852, for the premiums 

 offered for the best cultivated farms, made payable in 1855. 

 Both applicants have withdrawn their claims, stating that the ' 

 requisition to keep an accurate account of the expense of culti- 

 vation and the annual products of the farms, required more 

 labor than they were willing to perform. It is hoped the reluc- 

 tance of farmers to comply with stated conditions will neither 

 induce the Trustees to relax their conditions, or omit offers of 

 a class of premiums from which more extensive and salutary 

 influences may be expected, than from any other. A knowledge 

 of the management of entire farms has been deemed, by agricul- 

 tural societies generally, as of the highest importance to the prog- 

 ress of improvement. Few, if any, of the societies, in the early / 

 periods of their existence, have neglected to offer liberal premi- 

 ums for the best cultivated farms ; but many of them have been 

 discouraged from the continuance of them, in view of the very 

 imperfect and unsatisfactory statements obtained. Different 

 methods have been adopted to bring out clearer views of the 

 actual management of farms. In^ some instances, a series of 

 questions has been proposed which applicants for premiums 

 were required to answer. The answers have generally been too 

 lacoiiic to give the reader any clear views of the applicant's sys- 

 tem. Some societies have depended chiefly on receiving and 

 communicating information through visiting committees ; but 



