126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRIGTLUURE. 



First Statement of Benjamin P. Ware. 



The land selected for tlie experiment with manures had lain 

 in gra?s for ten years previous to August, 1859, when it was 

 ploughed up. 



The surface soil is a dark loam ten inches deep, resting upon 

 a compact gravelly subsoil, retentive of manure; not subject to 

 suffer J'rom drought or excessive wet ; it is level ; free from 

 rocks or other obstructions, and is considered of superior 

 quality for general cultivation. 



There had been but little rain last spring, and on the 16th 

 of April the land was in good condition for ploughing, it being 

 sufficiently dry, and the sod (from breaking up the previous 

 August) pretty well rotted. 



It measures six rods wide by ten rods long, which I divided 

 into six equal lots, each one rod wide and ten rods long — 

 making ten square rods of land in each lot. Upon lot No. 1 I 

 spread evenly four and one-half feet of manure (at the rate of 

 nine cords per acre,) composted from equal parts of peat mud, 

 sea manure and horse manure, all forked over together three 

 times, and allowed to ferment each time. I then ploughed 

 (April l(3th,) the whole land eight inches deep, then harrowed 

 very thoroughly, until the sod was well pulverized. 



April 17th, lot number two was spread with the same 

 amount of manure of the same quality, and the whole land 

 cross-{)l()uglicd four inches deep. Then lot number three was 

 manured in the same manner as lots number one and two, and 

 the wliolc land harrowed thoroughly. April 18th, tlie whole 

 land was furrowed four inches deep, and three and one- 

 half feet apart; and lot number six was manured in the drill, 

 with the same amount and quality as the previous lots. I then 

 planted the whole land with Jackson White potatoes, of small, 

 but not the smallest size, placing them whole, ten inches apart, 

 m the drills. 



Then spread upon lot number four, manure as upon the other 

 lots, and allowing it to remain upon the sui-face ; while lot 

 number five had no manure at all. 



I am aware tiiat the ex[)erimcnt of lot number six is not 

 requiied by the society ; but it being the common way of 

 applying manure for potatoes in this vicinity, I was induced to 



