GRAIN CROPS. 229 



past two years. The soil is a gravelly loam. About the middle 

 of September, 1870, the land was ploughed six inches deep, and 

 sowed to wheat, using 1\ bushels of seed. The only fertilizers 

 used were 22 bushels of ashes and 5 bushels of salt, strewn 

 broadcast and harrowed in with the seed ; but the land, having 

 previously been set to tobacco, was in good condition. I was 

 obliged to turn my cattle into the lot soon after it was sown, 

 and as fast as it grew up was fed off. I thought it might be 

 much injured, but, after taking out the cattle, November 1st, it 

 thickened and spread so that it was quite heavy when the ground 

 froze for the winter. I think the feeding was a decided benefit 

 to it. I was advised by some to harrow it in the spring, because 

 it was so thick, but did not, and have had no cause to regret it. 



VALUE OF CROP. 



55 bushels wheat, at $2,. 

 2| tons et:aw, at $12, .... 

 1 ton hay, ...... 



EXPENSES. 



Ploughing, sowing and harrowing, . 

 Harvesting and threshing, 



Net gain, 1121 25 



Statement of John L. Banks, Northjield. 

 The land on which my wheat was raised, was three acres of 

 sandy loam. In 18d9 two acres were planted to corn, using 

 about 10 bushels of ashes and 300 pounds of plaster to the acre ; 

 the other was in clover. In 1870 I spread on 30 loads (of 30 

 bushels each) of manure to the acre and ploughed it in, plough- 

 ing four inches deep. Early in June I ploughed again, plough- 

 ing six inches deep, and set to tobacco, using Peruvian guano 

 and phosphate at different times, and hoeing it in. About the 

 15th of September I ploughed the land and sowed to wheat, 

 using no manure. The seed I rolled in plaster, and used 2 

 bushels to the acre. The ground was harrowed lightly before 



