132 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the year before eight and one-half tons for first and second 

 crops inchisive ! Was not this experinaent and result sufficient 

 to encourage future top-dressing ? 



Oak Hill, South Danvers, November 1, 1862. 



EXPERIMENT ON THE ESSEX SOCIETY'S FARM. 



Report of the Experiment on the Application of Manures on the 

 " TreadweU Farm" commenced in the year 1862, competing for the 

 Premium, as offered hy the Massachusetts Society, and also by the Essex 

 Agricultural Society. 



Land selected, level. 



Amount of land, two and one-half acres. 



Quality of land, dry, not retentive of manure. 



Crop of 1861, grass. 



No manure in 1861. 



Kind of manure used in 1862, stable manure worked over in 

 hog-yard. 



Amount, sixteen cords. 



Depth of first ploughing, eight inches. 



Four cords applied to lot No. 1, and ploughed eight inches 

 deep the whole field. 



Four cords applied to lot No. 2, and cross-ploughed the 

 whole field four inches deep. 



Four cords applied to lot No. 3, and harrowed the whole field 

 twice. 



Four cords applied to lot No. 4, and left exposed on the 

 surface. 



No manure to lot No. 5. 



1862, May 24 to 28, planted the whole field with potatoes, 

 three and one-half feet apart each way. 



June 11th, cultivated the whole field both ways. 



June 16th, 17th and 18tli, hoed the whole field. 



June 23d, cultivated the whole field both ways. 



June 30tli, cultivated the whole field both ways. 



July 5th, cultivated the whole field both ways, and com- 

 menced hoeing the second time ; finished July 8th. 



August 2r)th, 26th and 27th, cleared the ground from weeds. 



October 31st, finished harvesting. 



