84 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



corn ground with the cob is worth as much for all kinds of 

 feeding-purposes as a bushel of solid Western corn. If so, 

 then we make a sad mistake when we depend upon the West- 

 ern granaries for our supply of this useful grain, and do not 

 cultivate our own soil to its fullest capacity. 



In the absence of any authorized standard, in making our 

 awards where there was sufficient competition, we have been 

 guided bj^ the rule of superior excellence, with the exception 

 of the corn-crop, but there by quantity, as there was equal 

 excellence. To us it seems that the best interests of agri- 

 culture can be subserved by learning how to produce the 

 largest given crop at the least expense, and that this should 

 be the rule by which all decisions should be made, or awards 

 determined. 



S. Baebee, for the Committee. 



ONIONS. 

 [Statement of Alvin E. Sanderson, Sunderland.] 



The crops raised on this land for the two years prior to 

 1877 were onions, three cords of barnyard-manure being 

 used each year. The land was ploughed five inches deep 

 in November, 1876, and harrowed and raked smooth in April, 

 before sowing ; the same quantity of manure being used as in 

 the two prior years. Two pounds of Yellow Dan vers onion- 

 seed were sown April 7, with a Harrington seed-sower. A 

 hand cultivator was used between the rows ; and the crop was 

 weeded by hand five times. 



Between Sept. 18 and 25 the onions were raked from the 

 rows into beds, left to dry a day or two, then taken to a shed, 

 and spread, where they laid till the last of October. 



Cr. 



Value of product, 226 bushels $113 00 



Dr. 



Ploughing and preparation $3 00 



Manure 23 00 



Seed and planting 3 00 



Cultivation 20 00 



49 00 



Profit $Gi 00 



