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The land on which they grsw was poor pasture land, and had not 

 been cultivated for more than thirty years. It was ploughed last 

 fall, and again this spring; was well manured, partly with night soil 

 and partly with piggery manure, to which was added a quantity of 

 guano and ground bones, — the cost of the two latter being $G.60 

 per acre. The potatoes grew well, and yielded a fair crop ; were 

 dug early, and sent to market. In digging the potatoes, the tops 

 were laid regularly between the rows ; at the same time care was 

 taken to haul the earth over them, which made somewhat of a ridge. 

 These ridges were three feet apart. The ruta-baga seed were 

 dropped upon them, nine inches apart, at several times between 

 July 27th and August 10th. No plough was used after taking oflf 

 the crop of potatoes. At least one- tenth of the spaces intended for 

 the ruta-baga were vacant, as the seed did not vegetate. About ten 

 days afcer the plants were up, the cultivator was passed between the 

 rows ; the plants were thinned out, leaving but one in a space, and 

 thoroughly weeded. This is all the cultivation they received. About 

 the 20th of October, the entire crop on the five acres was sold for 

 one hundred and fiftij dollars — the purchaser to take them from the 

 ground, where they then were. 



The person who bought them says that the produce was more than 

 twelve hundred bushels, and that they were well worth the sum he 

 paid for them. When it is considered that this crop was raised 

 upon land that had produced a fair yield of potatoes, and that ildrty 

 dollars per acre was realized for a second crop, while the expense did 

 not exceed five dollars per acre, I am led to believe that land will 

 sometimes, at least, pay the cultivator a fair compensation for the 

 labor bestowed. 



With much esteem. 



Your obedient servant, 



CHEEVER NEWHALL. 



