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best farmers in the county, and it would be difficult to find their 

 superiors in the State, who keep a milk farm in the neighbor- 

 hood of the city, prefer clover to any other hay for their milch 

 cows ; and their clover hay, as I saw it, is of a very superior 

 quality. It is cut early : after a very little drying, and without 

 any tossing about or spreading, it is put into moderately sized 

 cocks, where it is left to make by its own fermentation : when 

 it is deemed sufficiently dried, the cocks are turned bottom up- 

 wards, and as soon as all dampness is dried off, they are carried 

 into the barn. While they are in cock, even a considerable rain 

 upon them does not so materially injure them as many would 

 fear, provided they are attended to on the weather's becoming 

 good. This is the account given me by these farmers, whose 

 management of their farm in Medford is a model of good 

 husbandry. 



The yield of grass per acre in Middlesex is, as was to be ex- 

 pected, variously estimated by different individuals, the soil and 

 cultivation differing much in different places. In VVestford it is 

 put down at 1^ ton per acre. In Concord, at 1^ and 2 tons to the 

 acre. In Lowell, at If ton. In Marlborough, li to 2 tons per 

 acre. — In another estimate it is thus given : first year of being 

 laid down, 2J tons ; second year, 2 tons ; third year, 2 tons ; fourth 

 year, 1 ton : or about 1| ton per year during the course. In Gro- 

 ton, first year, 1 ton ; second year, If ton ; third year, If ton ; 

 fourth year, IJ ton. In Tewksbury, first year IJ ton ; second 

 year, IJ ton ; third year, 1 ton. In Weston, 1 to 2 tons. In 

 Burlington at less than 1 ton. In Woburn, Vj ton per acre. In 

 Reading, first year 2 tons ; second year, IJ ton. In Bedford, 

 first year, IJ ton ; second year, 2 tons : another estimate, first 

 year, 2 tons ; second year, 2 tons ; third year, 1^ ton ; fourth 

 year, 1 ton. The above returns will enable the reader to form 

 an estimate of the crop. The ton with us is 2000 lbs net weight. 

 In this account of the average yield of grass in the county, I 

 have left out all large and extraordinary returns, of which I 

 have many, and shall speak of them when I come to treat of 

 agricultural improvements and redeemed meadows. 



