44 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



[Statement of Joseph Horton.] 



The land I offer for your inspection has been in pasture 

 many years, not having been ploughed or cultivated within 

 the memory of my oldest neighbors. It measures a hundred 

 and fifty-two square rods. The soil varies from a stiff clay, 

 to a light, yellow loam ; and the surface, for the most part, 

 is covered with small, low bushes. 



Treatment. — With a strong pair of oxen and a medium- 

 sized plough, with a straight, sharp coulter reaching to the 

 point, I ploughed off the hillocks and ridges, frequently as- 

 sisting the team by cutting through the roots with an old 

 axe. After ploughing, I left the furrows exposed to the sun 

 for a few days, then cut and carted them into a heap to burn. 



A fire was started at once, and kept burning until every 

 thing was consumed. The field was then ploughed, rolled, 

 and harrowed, in the usual manner, and seeded to winter 

 rye ; nine cart-loads of ashes, the product of the fire, being 

 applied as a dressing. 



The next spring the piece was sown to grass, as the rye, 

 which looked well in the fall, was badly winter-killed. I 

 got but ten bushels of rye. The following gives the cost of 

 the improvement : — 



Cr. 



By 10 bushels of rye, at 81 810 00 



2\ tons of hay, at $20 45 00 



155 00 



Dr. 



To 2 men and 1 pair of oxen ploughing ofE sods 1 day . 86 00 

 2 men and 1 pair of oxen clearing off sods 2 days . 12 00 

 2 men and 1 pair of oxen ploughing off sods 1 day . 6 00 



1 man and one pair of oxen harrowing and rolling 1 day 4 00 



2 men and 1 pair of oxen spreading ashes half-day . 3 00 

 Cost of seed, rye and grass 3 00 



34 00 



Balance in favor of improvement 821 00 



The grass was of the first quality, and was estimated by 

 the committee to average two tons per acre. 



To satisfy others as to the value of these ashes, I selected 



