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six bushels have been obtained to the acre. A mixture of this 

 meal with Indian meal has been found beneficial in the fatting 

 of swine and cattle. 



10. Buck Wheat is cultivated in the county to a very lim- 

 ited extent, A farmer in Whately has cultivated the Tarta- 

 rian buck wheat, a smaller seed than the common buck wheat 

 and deemed more prolific. Some accidental circumstance has 

 given it the name of Indian wheat. He obtained in one case 

 forty bushels per acre, but deemed the crop uncertain. On 

 grinding he obtained only fifteen pounds flour to the bushel. 

 The bran is worthless. He likes the grain, when ground as 

 feed for stock. The crop has been sown by some farmers in 

 order to be ploughed in as a green dressing ; but in one instance, 

 which came within my observation, not with great success. 

 No use is made of the straw or haulm of the crop ; but in some 

 places out of the county it is esteemed good feed for young 

 stock. 



11. Teasles have been cultivated to some small extent in 

 the county, and have been deemed a profitable crop. The ob- 

 jections to their cultivation are two ; first, the danger of being 

 winter-killed ; and second, the capriciousness of the market. 

 The cultivation, however, might without doubt be extended to 

 advantage. Having treated the matter of their cultivation 

 somewhat at large in my Second Report of the Agriculture of 

 Massachusetts, I forbear to extend my remarks. 



12. Peppermint [Qneniha piperita) was formerly cultivated in 

 Ashfield in this county to a large extent and with considerable pro- 

 fit ; it was cultivated with a view to obtain the oil as an article of 

 commerce. An acre of land would sometimes yield enough of 

 the herb to produce fifteen pounds of oil, and thirty pounds have 

 been obtained. The land was prepared as for corn. The 

 roots were then separated and laid in the furrow. It is highly 

 necessary to keep the plants free from weeds. They are to be 

 cut when in flower ; partially dried, and then distilled. 



