194 HOW TO GET A FARM, 



expense of $1,100 for manure and labor. Another 

 party, who bought land at $12.50 per acre, so culti 

 vated it as to produce one hundred bushels of oats 

 to the acre, and the same season grew turnips which 

 yielded an additional profit of $29 per acre. A 

 tract of these neglected lands has produced twenty- 

 five bushels of wheat per acre, a year or two after 

 being taken up. 



These lands have been a frequent subject of dis 

 cussion at the New York Farmers Club. As the 

 parties who share in these discussions are experi 

 enced agriculturists, some of their opinions are 

 quoted. Professor Nash said : 



&quot; It has been stated and denied that the land is loam, 

 and not sand or gravel. I have lately spent some days in 

 examination of this soil, and find that statement correct, 

 and that it is beautifully adapted to garden culture, and 

 capable of producing various crops most profitable to the 

 cultivator. This loam has produced and is able to produce 

 $400 to the acre in strawberries. I wish the slanders that 

 have been spoken against the lands of Long Island could 

 be counteracted, and their value better known and made 

 useful to the world. Although not as rich as prairie soil, it 

 is well worthy of the attention of small farmers and men 

 in search of lands for homes. Such homes can be made 

 upon the wild lands of Long Island as well, to say the least, 

 as in the west.&quot; 



Dr. Peck said that these lands do not need ren 

 ovating, but merely cultivation. The whole centre 

 of the island is a natural clover field. He added 

 that upon just such land as that which is called bar 

 ren, fifty-four bushels of wheat had been grown, 



