70 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



nure, for which I paid eight dollars. On the other half, being 

 in the centre of the piece, I spread guano, at the same cost as 

 the yard manure, (i. e. at the first cost — the expense of apply- 

 ing the guano was but little, compared with that of applying 

 the yard manure). I harrowed in the guano. Then I planted 

 to broomcorn, using a little super-phosphate in the hill upon 

 the whole. The piece was managed alike, during the whole 

 season, after the different manures were ap])lied. Many per- 

 sons who have passed, have asked why the middle of this piece 

 looked so much the best. I referred them to the guano. The 

 crop is not yet harvested, but good judges have said there would 

 be two hundred pounds more of broom-brush and a greater ex- 

 cess of seed upon the guanoed half. 



No. 4. Believing broomcorn stalks of some value, if ploughed 

 in green, I cut some stalks from a part of a piece, immediately 

 after I had taken off the crop, and placed the stalks in furrows 

 nice and smooth — one hand ploughing while another took care 

 of the stalks. I sowed the piece to oats, the following spring, 

 and upon the part where I ploughed in stalks the oats were 

 one-ttiird heavier than where none were ploughed in. I ob- 

 tained eight dollars worth of oats on one acre for the labor of 

 getting rid of my broomcorn stalks in this way. And as to 

 removing the stalks, it did not cost me a dollar more than to 

 have gathered and burned them in the spring. 



Sunderland, Oct. 5, 1855. 



PLYMOUTH. 



Statement of Austin J. Roberts. 



The plan adopted by me in making compost manure is as fol- 

 lows : As soon as our barn cellar and hog sties are cleared of 

 manure in the spring, w^e commence carting in muck one year 

 old, on wbich the droppings of some ten head of cattle and three 

 horses are evenly scattered from time to time. I usually add 

 two loads of decomposed muck to one of clear manure, but 

 never more than this, for with a greater quantity you get a poor- 

 er article. With the usual number of cattle and horses, togeth- 

 er with two or three pigs, I can make 250 loads of extra quality 

 manure in my barn cellar and hog sties. Resorting to that 



