82 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



June 10. I spread on a cord and a half of compost- 

 manure from the barn-cellar, harrowing very thoroughly, and 

 making the surface very mellow. Holes were dug six feet 

 apart each way, and one large shovelful of compost-manure 

 put in a hill, covered lightly with the soil. The piece was 

 planted June 15, supposed to be with pure Marrow-seed. 

 They came up very readily. As soon as they began to break 

 ground, they were covered with plaster, and kept so until 

 the bugs were out of the way. I find by experience that I 

 have been troubled less with the maggot, till this year, by 

 keeping the ground level. Mode of cultivation is as fol- 

 lows : — 



Twelve hundred pounds of squash at $3 per hundred . . $36 00 



Plougliing ^1 00 



Carting manure . . . . • . . . 1 50 



Spreading manure and harrowing .... 1 00 



Digging holes and manuring in hill . . . 1 00 



Plaster 25 



Seed • . . 25 



Planting 50 



Cultivating and hoeing 8 00 



A cord and a half of manure, one-half to land . 6 00 



Interest and taxes 50 



Harvesting omitted ...... 



o 



15 00 



Profit $21 00 



Framingham, Sept. 17, 1877. 



FRANKLIN. 



[From the Report of Committee.] 



In no season, perhaps, in the memory of man, have favor- 

 ing skies and a responsive earth done more to second the 

 labors of the husbandman than they have the present : and 

 strange indeed will it be if the like, in all kinds of cereals, 

 shall happen in this generation ; so that the products of the 

 fields for this year will be no safe and accurate criterion by 

 which to judge or forecast the production of the next year, 

 or the immediate future. This season we must regard as an 

 exception, and so Jay our plans, and moderate our desires and 

 expectations, that we may not be unduly disappointed if we 

 do not reap the rich reward for the same expense. 



